steeple call august 2013 - clover...
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Steeple Call
August 2013
H e w l e t t - P a c k a r d C o m p a n y From the Pastor’s Desk
LEGACIES OF LOVE AND KINDNESS
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:18-19 – Paul’s charge to Tim-
othy)
Edwin Hubbel Chapin once said, "Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will
vibrate in eternity." That is the definition of a legacy. Wouldn't you love to do something that
might strike a beautiful chord that will "vibrate in eternity"?
I am reminded of a commercial on TV that follows the effects of one kind action. The one who was shown kind-
ness goes on to help someone else. That person, in turn helps another. This person then helps someone else. So it
is when we offer acts of kindness, compassion, mercy and love. Smile and usually the one you smile at will find
themselves smiling. Let someone merge in busy traffic and more than likely they will do the same to another mo-
torist in a similar situation. Our good actions live on. They leave a legacy of love and kindness that continues to
“vibrate in eternity.”
Steve Goodier tells a story about a couple in Canada and their legacy of love and kindness. This couple stopped to
help a motorist who had run out of gasoline. It was a regular occurrence in their part of rural Canada. After they got
him on his way, they bought a new fuel can, scratched their initials on it, filled it with gas and stored it in the trunk
of their car.
A few months later they again stopped to assist a stranded motorist. But this time they GAVE him their gas can
and told him to fill it up, keep it with him and pass it along to the next motorist he sees who has run out of fuel.
Though they never expected to see their can again, in a couple of years they spotted it being passed along to a
grateful motorist on the road. They recognized it several more times over the years, and each time they asked its
owner where it had come from. They ascertained that the can had traveled across the continent at least two times!
They never intended to leave a legacy. When they bought the fuel can they never dreamed that their action might
strike chords that could vibrate in eternity. But that container may still be traveling around the country.
And it might not seem like a big thing, but many motorists have been saved by the generosity of complete strangers
who stop to help. Then each in turn has taken the container, re-filled it, and diligently looked, perhaps for days or
weeks, for an opportunity to pass it along. Good will generated by a humble can of fuel has no doubt been multi-
plied many times in countless ways, striking beautiful chords that vibrate forever.
It's true - generous people leave great legacies. Even that small piece of yourself you generously give away may
thrive in surprising ways throughout eternity. What can you share with someone else today? This week? This
month? This year?
In His Service, Mike
GRACE
I have been in ministry for about 12 years now, and I have been a United Methodist pastor for 7 years. This is not
much time in ministry. I am sure many pastors have put in double and sometimes triple the amount of time and
years in ministry. Though I have not been in ministry for as long as some people have, I hope that I can share a
couple of things about God’s grace.
Grace is a hard thing for me to grasp. Most people hear about grace and think of the hymn, or they may know
about the definition, “unmerited favor.” Thinking about grace and preparing for August and what is to be called
“Special Offer” got me to the point of being perplexed. I don’t understand grace. I really cannot fathom the depth
of God’s forgiveness and love to where he would forgive people who sin and sin again. On the cross, Jesus ex-
claimed, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Forgiving people for murder and scoffing be-
cause they “know not what they do” is truly amazing. This begins my thought process on grace.
I believe that it is not so much about what it is and understanding the meaning behind the word and the
“theological idea.” Instead, grace is more about “bending” and “stretching.” Let me explain my thought process.
I have been a part of a workout routine that included many things such as heavy weights, cardiovascular exercise,
and a 1½-hour stretch routine. Out of all of the exercises, the stretch routine was the hardest. At the end of the
program I could do 480 pushups in one routine, do 180 squats and lunges in another routine, but I still could not
finish the stretch routine all the way through. Grace is like bending and stretching.
Stretching requires a person to push their muscles to the point where they literally hurt which lets your body know
that it’s time to stop. I believe that our God stretches his heart each day to the point where it hurts to pull his most
beloved creatures (humanity) back to him. I keep thinking, “How far does God stoop?” He bends to the point of
breaking, and it broke his Son on the cross for many to see his love for us. So, grace is like stretching.
For us, to show grace (i.e. love, forgiveness, and mercy when none is deserved) is a big stretch. I found that the
more I stretch, the easier it is for me to do so the next time. I also found that the more I stretch, the further I can go
without it hurting so much. To show grace instead of hatred means that we will feel the pain, but push through the
pain to give out love. I don’t know about you, but that is a big stretch (pun intended).
I believe that the more we give grace, the closer we come to being in the presence of God. There is power in grace
and mercy, and it sets people free.
Peace,
Pastor Joseph
ELEVATE Children's Ministry at FUMC will be
hosting the first annual Back to School Bash for
kids of all ages. We will gather at the church on
Sunday, August 18, from 4-6pm as a way to cap-
stone the summer season. We will have music,
bouncy houses, games, food, even snow cones!
Please make plans to attend this first annual event.
You don't want to miss the biggest party of the
summer! At the end, the children will receive a
goody bag of school supplies to help get them off
to a great start to the school year. See you there!
GREETER SCHEDULE
8:30 a.m. Service 11 a.m. Service
August 4 Vicki & Bud Daniels Lynne & Jodie Woolard
Rodney Kemp Dan & Margaret Wade
August 11 Jim & Ellie Buckingham Liz & Cliff Merrill
Cecelia Fulcher Fran Welch
August 18 Jean Kittrell Jean Peterson
Try & Frances Baugh Richard & Liv Stephens
August 25 Connie Daniels Steve & Ada Nunn
Lee & Teresa Everett Jerry Fischler
HARBORVIEW DEVOTIONS
Stanley Harrell Class
MARTHA’S MISSION
The food for the month of August
is baby foods. Thank you for your
continued support of this valuable
ministry.
GREETERS
How nice is it to have someone greet you on Sunday
morning with a smile and handshake? You are invited
to become one of those greeters. You will be asked to
greet once every 6-10 weeks, depending on which
service you attend. It's easy! Just notify the church
office with your name, phone number, email address
(if you have one), and which service you prefer.
That's all you need to do! You will be notified and be
provided with easy instructions and your very own
name tag . . . who could ask for more. See you at the
door soon!
SYMPATHY
Our Christian love and sympathy is extended to Kathy
Chalk and Family upon the death of her mother,
Frances Lawrence, of Apex, NC who passed away
recently.
BAPTISM CELEBRATION
We celebrated the Sacrament of Holy Baptism at the
8:30 service on July 7 for Charles Brantley “Charlie”
Bissette and Etta Clementine Bissette, children of
Brantley & Keri Bissette. Charles & Nancy Bissette
of First UMC are the proud grandparents.
CELEBRATION
We would like to celebrate the 60th Wedding Anniver-
sary of Roy and Peggy Denkins, who were married on
July 4.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Jon & Hannah Symonds upon the
birth of their son, Jack Hugh Symonds, born on July
5th, 2013. The maternal grandparents are Bruce &
Pam Styron and Pam & David Waller. The paternal
grandparents are Joe & Judy Symonds.
Congratulations to Robert & Dega Lancaster upon the
birth of their son, Mason Curtis Lancaster, born on
July 23. The maternal grandparents are Dykeman &
Loretta Baily.
CONFIRMATION ANNOUNCEMENT
We celebrated the confirmation of Christian Michael
Garner on July 14 as he made his first profession of
faith, confirming the vows of baptism and committing
to church membership through the Confirmation ser-
vice.
It is with our prayers that the Staff Parish Relations
Committee is sending our two pastors to a Leadership
Institute Conference at the United Methodist Church
of the Resurrection in Kansas City, for a total of 4 1/2
days, including travel. The Conference is over Sep-
tember 25-27. Keynote speakers are Adam Hamilton
and John Ortberg. For those who have taken Glenda
Fleshman’s classes, you have seen that both speakers
are awe-inspiring. There will be workshops on
preaching, leadership and self care, among others.
Neither will miss a Sunday service, and should there
be spiritual needs during that week Jerry Webster is
available for pastoral coverage. Please join us in our
prayers for Mike and Joseph, because not only will
they participate in the conference, but they also will
have time to refresh their spirits and reinforce their
ability to lead our church as a team.
ATTENTION
Boys and girls 4th grade through high school!
We are recreating the acolyte process and are looking
for people interested in serving.
There would be a short training session involved.
Please call the church office at 726-7102 to sign up.
Thanks
The Worship Committee
My dear Church Family
Thank you for the comfort you give me and all the
many ways you continue to minister to me—for your
prayers, love, visits, cards, phone calls, and delicious
foods.
Special thanks to Pastor Mike and Pastor Joseph for
visiting with me and giving me communion.
Thank you everyone for making my 96th birthday so
special and wonderful, and I thank God for giving me
a new beginning and new year and pray to be used as
His Servant. I do keep all in my prayers 24/7. So
many made it so special, I can’t name each one and
still re. Day by day new mercies I see. Great is His
faithfulness to all.
Jim say thanks to all.
Love & Prayers to All
Virginia Swann & Son, Jim
Thank you all for your kindness and well wishes. It
was ever my joy to work for you as you all have en-
riched my life in many ways.
Love & Blessings
Frances Welch
Dear Scholarship Committee
Thank you so much for providing a scholarship op-
portunity with the First United Methodist Church
Scholarship. I am very honored to be a recipient of
this award. It will help me offset some of my tuition,
allowing me to go to my dream school, WFU! Thank
you again!
Sincerely
Sydney Pfaff
Dear First United Methodist Church
Thank you so much for providing a special lunch, bi-
ble, and homemade pillow to all of us seniors. Out of
all of the events commemorating our graduation, Sen-
ior Sunday was by far my favorite as well as a favorite
for my family. Thank you so much again.
Love
Hannah Fischler
Dear Pastor Mike & Joseph
I just wanted to thank you for my gift! You guys are
very thoughtful and caring! I also want to thank those
who contributed to my gift and senior lunch.
Carly Jo Toler
KIDS DAY OUT
We will be going to see Ice Age at the Atlantic Station
Cinema on Wednesday, August 7. Arrive at the
church at 9:30 am; the movie starts at 10:30 am, and
we should be back to the church by 12 pm. This is a
time for kids to hang out and do something fun during
the day, and a great way for Mom or Dad to get a little
free time! There is no cost for the movie ticket, but if
you would like a small combo of popcorn, drink, and
candy, there is a $5 charge. Please see Jennifer if you
have any questions. To sign up, you can call the
church office. We hope to see you there!
COLLEGE ADDRESSES:
Very soon our college students will begin another
year. We need current addresses for all students so
that we can remember them throughout the year.
Whether your student has the same address as last year
or a new one, please notify the church as soon as you
have access to the address. You can call the church
office or notify Ellie Buckingham at 726-8633 or
ebuckingham@ec.rr.com.
WAVERUNNERS SUMMER EVENTS
(ALL FUMC MEMBERS AND FRIENDS 50 +)
Wednesday, August 14, 2013. A road trip is planned
to the Spice Boutique in Kinston, NC. At the Spice
Boutique we will be touring the facility and having a
gourmet lunch that is prepared just for us. The cost of
the meal is $15 per person. Reservations and payment
for the meal must be made in the church office by
Monday, August 5, 2013, by 5 pm. We will be travel-
ing in the church vans and private cars. We will be
traveling in the Church Vans and private cars. We will
be leaving the Church parking lot at 8:30 am on Au-
gust 14 and returning approximately at 4 pm.
Menu for our lunch is as follows:
Greek Salad, Athenian Chicken,
Triple Roasted Potatoes, Vegetable Medley
Dessert: Chocolate Ganache Cake
STEWARDSHIP
As Christians, we have an obligation to decide the
ways God intends us to use our talents and resources.
We make the commitment to worship Him through
faithful living and careful stewarding of our gifts.
Through this, we reap spiritual benefits ourselves as
well as those whose lives we touch. Whether it is fi-
nancial support of a church mission, prayer for some-
one in need, or a simple act of kindness, we give of
ourselves yet, ultimately we are the benefactors.
“It is the most beautiful compensation of this life that
no one can sincerely try to help another without help-
ing oneself." Ralph Waldo Emerson
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR
COFFEE FELLOWSHIP
Teams of 4 -6 people are needed to host Coffee Fel-
lowship between services on Sunday mornings from
9:20 - 9:45 a.m. no more than twice a year. Duties
include: providing juice (coffee is already made) and
a simple snack, set up, and clean up. There is a sign-
up sheet in the atrium, or you may contact Lynne Mil-
ler at lomiller@ec.rr.com or any Witness Committee
member. Help us to extend hospitality, meet new
people, greet visitors and catch up with old friends by
volunteering to be a host.
DO YOU HAVE A PRAYER REQUEST?
FUMC has a team of Prayer Partners who will pray for
you or your concern. Please fill out one of the Prayer
Request Cards (on the back of the Visitor Card) in the
pew; either give it to one of our ministers, or drop it in
the white Prayer Box found to the left of our front
door.
Do you have a new address or phone number? Is your
birthday listed in our newsletter? Please contact the
church office with any changes or additions to your
information.
RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE
Monday, August 26
9 am until 3 pm
FUMC Fellowship Hall
Give the Gift of Life!
8/1 1 Corinthians 1:18-24 John 19:6-11, 13-20, 25-28, 30-35
Hebrews 11:33-12:2 Matthew 10:32-36; 11:1
Hebrews 2:11-18 John 5:1-4
1 Corinthians 3:18-23 Matthew 13:36-43
8/2 1 Corinthians 4:5-8 Matthew 13:44-54
8/3 Romans 9:1-5 Matthew 9:18-26
8/4 Romans 12:6-14 Matthew 9:1-8
8/5 1 Corinthians 5:9-6:11 Matthew 13:54-58
8/6 1 Corinthians 6:20-7:12 Matthew 14:1-13
2 Peter 1:10-19 Matthew 17:1-9
8/7 1 Corinthians 7:12-24 Matthew 14:35-15:11
8/8 1 Corinthians 7:24-35 Matthew 15:12-21
8/9 Galatians 5:22-6:2 Luke 6:17-23
1 Corinthians 7:35-8:7 Matthew 15:29-31
8/10 Romans 12:1-3 Matthew 10:37-11:1
8/11 Romans 15:1-7 Matthew 9:27-35
8/12 1 Corinthians 9:13-18 Matthew 16:1-6
8/13 Hebrews 7:26-8:2 Matthew 5:14-19
1 Corinthians 10:5-12 Matthew 16:6-12
8/14 1 Corinthians 10:12-22 Matthew 16:20-24
8/15 1 Corinthians 10:28-11:7 Matthew 16:24-28
Philippians 2:5-11 Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28
8/16 Colossians 1:12-18 Luke 9:51-56; 10:22-24
1 Corinthians 11:8-22 Matthew 17:10-18
8/17 Romans 13:1-10 Matthew 12:30-37
8/18 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 Matthew 14:14-22
8/19 1 Corinthians 11:31-12:6 Matthew 18:1-11
8/20 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 Matthew 18:18-22, 19:1-2, 13-15
8/21 1 Corinthians 13:4-14:5 Matthew 20:1-16
8/22 1 Corinthians 14:6-19 Matthew 20:17-28
8/23 Philippians 2:5-11 Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28
1 Corinthians 14:26-40 Matthew 21:12-14, 17-20
8/24 Romans 14:6-9 Matthew 15:32-39
8/25 1 Corinthians 3:9-17 Matthew 14:22-34
8/26 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 Matthew 21:18-22
8/27 1 Corinthians 15:29-38 Matthew 21:23-27
8/28 Galatians 5:22-6:2 Luke 6:17-23
1 Corinthians 16:4-12 Matthew 21:28-32
8/29 Acts 13:25-32 Mark 6:14-30
8/29 2 Corinthians 1:1-7 Matthew 21:43-46
8/30 2 Corinthians 1:12-20 Matthew 22:23-33
8/31 Romans 15:30-33 Matthew 17:24-18:4
Family Promise of Carteret County is an interfaith hospitality network of congregations in Carteret County that
provide emergency shelter, hospitality, and services to homeless families. So what does that mean? It means that
there are thirteen churches which host homeless families for a week, from Sunday to Sunday. Each church hosts
once every three months. Families spend the night in the church. During the weekdays, families leave the church
about 7:00 am and return around 5:30 pm. Some families leave the church to go a day center that’s located off of
20th Street while those with jobs go to them. School age children go to school. The day center provides guests
with a mailing address and a base for housing and employment searches. On Saturdays families are free to come
and go from the church during the day while Sunday’s are largely devoted to moving from one church to the other.
First United Methodist Church (FUMC) is one of the thirteen host churches. FUMC like the other host churches
have churches that help with the day-to-day of the host week. In the case of FUMC, it’s St. Andrews Episcopal
Church and Unitarian Coastal Fellowship. It is important to know however, that characterizing the work of the
volunteers from St. Andrews as “helping” does not do their work justice. It is more accurate to say that the volun-
teers from St. Andrews have played and continue to play a crucial role in making FPCC successful. Members of
St. Andrews have served as overnight hosts and provided dinners to our guests along with members from FUMC.
Together, we have hosted six times since December 2011.
So, who are we helping? By in large, our guests have been single mothers with children from infant age through
high school. We have however, also hosted a single 55-year old woman whose children were old enough to be on
their own as well as, a working father and his three sons.
Maybe you are now thinking to yourself: “Wow, that many homeless mothers with children in Carteret County.
I’ve never seen them around town.” Well, that’s because they double and triple up in the homes of friends and
acquaintances many times only until relationships get strained due to the cramped quarters. They live in their cars
in the parking lot of Wal-Mart and they stay in cheap motels until the money runs out. Some of them have includ-
ed:
The 55-year old woman who thanked all of the volunteers profusely on the Wednesday morning when she left
the program because she had gotten a job that would allow her to find a place to stay. She kept telling us
that Family Promise was a God-sent for her and that she hoped we would continue on with it.
The mother of an 11-year old boy who found herself homeless because her hours of employment got cut to the
point that she could no longer afford the rent.
The young working mother of two, very well behaved, courteous and darling young children, who through no
fault of her own, came home one day to her mother’s house where she was living to find that her mother
had sold all her belongings and told her to get out. A mother I might add that she still loves.
These women are not the chronic homeless. They just need assistance until they can get back on their feet. And
that’s where the volunteers come in. Volunteers are the human spirit of hospitality, personal support and compas-
sion that families need to help them get back on their feet. They cook and serve meals, assist overnight and
transport guests to and from the day center. But more importantly, volunteers just make guests feel at home.
Do things always go perfectly? No. Our guests are people and people have flaws. So occasionally our house rules
have to be emphasized. From time-to-time our volunteers have to bite their tongues because they might not think
the parenting skills they are seeing matches that which they would do. But Galatians 6:9 says: “…let us not grow
weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (because things don’t always go swim-
mingly).
And reap we have, as evidenced by just a few of the stories about some of the guests who have spent the week at
FUMC:
The mother’s whose work hours were cut has a new job, a place to live and her own car now. Her son is fin-
ishing up the 8th grade.
(See next page)
One of the mom’s who stayed with us has a new son. She continues to work at McDonalds, has an apartment
in Beaufort and a car.
A high-school student whom we hosted with his mother graduated from West Carteret High School during
June 2012. He obtained two scholarships which help him continue to pursue a career in music and broad-
casting. Prior to that, we even got a Christmas card in from his mother in 2011 which included the fol-
lowing note:
Thank you for your prayers and support. We got our Christmas wish just in time for my son’s birthday and
Christmas. We move into our new apartment between today and Tuesday. Thank you so much.
The young mother who was forced to leave the home of her mother passed her CNA recertification and is
doing very well. Last we heard, she had even reconciled with her mother.
We along with the volunteers from St. Andrews and Unitarian Coastal Fellowship have made these and other suc-
cess stories possible. As the FUMC site coordinator, I thank you all of you who have made the success stories
possible through your volunteer efforts.
Lastly, if you have not volunteered to date, I encourage you to do so. Our most pressing volunteer needs are listed
below along with the person to contact should you want to volunteer.
Overnight Host - Spends overnight in the church (7:00 pm to 7:00 am). Each night the overnight hosts will
consist of two people. They will be either two ladies or a married couple.
Contact: Loretta Bailey at 726-9521 or Loretta@mechworksinc.com
Dinner Provider – Prepares dinner for our guests for serving at approximately 5:30 pm. Will also dine with
the guests and assist them until shortly after arrival of overnight hosts at 7:00 pm.
Contact: Susan Turnage at 726-9786 or skturnage@hotmail.com
Saturday or Sunday Lunch - Provides and delivers lunch items such as bread, lunch meats, sandwich mak-
ing condiments, chips, potato salad, macaroni salad, tea, sodas, etc.
Contact: Susan Turnage at 726-9786 or skturnage@hotmail.com
Saturday Monitor - Serves as an onsite monitor with a partner during Saturday between the hours of 8:00 am
to 5:30 pm, typically in a 2 hour shift.
Contact: Jayna McDonald at 622-3272 or mcdonald@centurylink.net
Sunday Arrival Host - Will be present at the church on arrival Sunday from approximately 12:30 pm to 5:30
pm to assist and make newly arrived guests feel at home.
Contact: Greg Meshaw ar 247-7993 or gmeshaw1@ec.rr.com
Again, I thank you for your work.
Greg Meshaw
First United Methodist Church Family Promise Coordinator
2013
The highlight of Annual Conference for me this year
was what I called laboring in the rice paddy. Rodney
laughed at this but we spent one evening there for 4
gongs. I’ll explain! The program is called Stop
Hunger Now and it is a very much a Methodist crea-
ture with UMCOR as a major donor to its mission.
At the Hilton in Greenville, a room had been desig-
nated as a SHN workshop. Here 400 gram bags of
rice, soy, dried veggies and vitamins were measured
and sealed by volunteer workers. The goal was to
make 100,000 bags in just 3 days. Every 1,000 bags
packaged is heralded by the sounding of a gong.
Many hundreds of our delegates and more than 40
youth labored in this mission. I spent most of Friday
in the rice paddy and we met the goal and exceeded
it by 252 bags.
Each bag is a meal for 6 people but I consider it to be
insufficient and as usual we need to do more. Our
own church will be the site of a SHN workshop in
September. Let’s support this endeavor to the max.
Scouts, youth, seniors, men, women and children of
the church and community, you are being called to
ministry for God’s own dear Son, the Christ, who fed
the multitudes. Come and let us do as He did then!
There is a prayer I love that goes like this: “You
have taken the Yoke of Christ upon you when you
chose to follow Him, take now also His Towel of
Service and go out to wash the feet of the world!” I
won’t kid you and say you won’t be tired or that your
back won’t hurt or that you won’t be sore; but it will
be the best ‘tired’ of your life! Amen!
At the annual memorial service, the Rev. Langil
Watson, among others was remembered for his faith-
ful service to the church. He is a distant cousin and
was the senior minister at University Methodist in
Chapel Hill, but not when I was a student there. A
note of interest is that while there, his congregation
made a Carolina fan of him and it stuck long after he
departed Chapel Hill. His wife was there for the ser-
vice and Rodney and I gave her our condolences.
Financially our conference is in great shape. We are
the only conference in Methodism that sets a budget
in one year, raises it the next and spends it in the 3rd
year. The NCAC has met all its obligations to the
General Church and its agencies and to the Jurisdic-
tional Conference and all its agencies. Christine
Dodson, the Conference Treasurer is a key reason for
this and she reports that the auditors have again giv-
en us the highest rating possible. It was pointed out
that the value of all Methodist holdings in this con-
ference from Virginia to South Carolina and from
Burlington to Buxton, amounts to $4.1 billion dol-
lars.
As usual, Rodney and I met many friends in both the
clergy and laity. Among the minister friends we
greeted were: Ben Sims, Ben Wells, Andi Wood-
house and husband, Ernie Porter, Rufus Stark and
wife, Homer Morris, Ben Ball, Powell Osteen,
Cloman Staton, Billy Seate & wife, Dennis Good-
win, Milton Gilbert, Doug Jesse, Eric Lindblade,
Adam Seate , Charles Smith, Kermit Braswell, Larue
Hill, Douglas Byrd, Lynda Harris & Reginald Pon-
der.
I also ran into the former Denise Collins and her hus-
band, who were lay delegates from their church.
Denise is the daughter of the late Malcolm and
Frances Collins of MHC. Rodney and I saw numer-
ous other lay delegates from Carteret Co. and even
beyond that were known to us.
One of our speakers introduced us to the term
“vigorous inertia”! The world changes but the
church has a tendency not to and instead fervently
preserves and defends its principles, dogmas and
practices. And that is not always a bad thing, but
sometimes it is.
MORE TO COME!
WESLEY’S 3 QUESTIONS?
F I R S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T
C H U R C H
900 Arendell Street
Morehead City, NC 28557
Return Service Requested
Phone: 252-726-7102 Fax: 252-808-2812 Web Address: www.firstchurchmc.com
Senior Pastor—Michael D. Frese mdfrese@hotmail.com
Associate Pastor—Reverend Joseph Franklin wordandtable@me.com
Administrative Office Manager—Christy Venters mhcfumcsec@hotmail.com
Director of Children’s Ministries & Education—Jennifer Lewis fumcdce@hotmail.com
Director Early Learning Center—Vera Price elcdirector@hotmail.com
Editor of the Steeple Call—Cindy Toler beachyc@yahoo.com
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
MOREHEAD CITY, NC
Permit No. 17
First United Methodist Church Mission Statement is
“LOVING, SHARING, AND SERVING
THROUGH THE WORD OF JESUS CHRIST”
Newsletter Deadline for September is
Monday August 19
Articles may be dropped by the church
office or e-mailed to Cindy at
beachyc@yahoo.com
The Steeple is lighted the month
of August in memory of Gordon
Laughton, whose birth date is
August 26, by Mary Laughton.
SENT WITH A PRAYER
SEE YOU IN CHURCH
August Meetings & Gatherings
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
Lay Shepherd
6:00
2
ELC 10:00
Library
3
4
Fellowship Time
Stanley Harrell
Class
5
UMW Lunch
12:00
Clamdigger
SPRC 6:00
6 7
Children’s Free
Movie 9:30
WaveRunners
4:30
8 9 10
UMM Breakfast
8:00
11
Fellowship Time
Education
Committee
12
Staff Vision
Dinner 5:30
Autism 6:30
13
Communications
6:00
14
History 11:00
Stewardship 7:00
Trustees 7:15
Education 7:15
15
ELC Board 6:15
16
ELC 10:00
Library
17
18
Fellowship Time
Adult Bible SS
Class
Back to School
Party 4:00-6:00
19
NEWSLETTER
DEADLINE
Witness 6:30
20 21
Finance 7:15
22 23 24
25
Fellowship Time
Family Life
Committee
26
Missions 6:00
27 28
Church Council
7:15
29 30
ELC 10:00
Library
31
August Birthdays Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
Charles Freeman
Sandy Sneesby
Lynn Cox
Bryan Gray
Misty Penny
Kathryn Zettl
2
Mike Wright
William
Bostwick
3
Myriam Nantz
Carolyn Brown
Matthew Riddle
4
Glen Mason
Vicki Zettl
Rebecca
Goodman
Claire Dalton
5
Mary Ruth Adams
6
Randy Hondros
7
Bill Jones
Gary Mace
John McCann Jr
Elaine Hughes
Erica Hughes
Spencer Russell
8
Bud Daniels
Joshua Faglie
9
James Smith Jr.
Ashley Colley
10
Willie Mae Lewis
Debbie Carroll
Sean Kelley
Raymond Lewis
11
Joanne West
Lugean Hogan
Wesley Kittrell
12
Steve Nunn
Susan Garlow
David Hardy
13 14
Rachel Mundine
Bob Upchurch
Tommy Webb
Harrison Smith
15
Janit Black
Sandra Wagoner
Ella Graham
16
Willa Bailey
Jacob Smith
17
Sharon Dowdy
Warren Perkinson
Lana Cox
Corey Highman
18
Imogene Phillips
Nancy Hanf
Laney Morgan
19
Gene Russell
Jayna McDonald
Mary Elizabeth
Lancaster
20
Lynn Hollowell
Nina Norris
Jan Loyd
Stephanie Garner
R. B. Hedgepeth
21
Sue Foscue
Bob Daves
Michael Gyure
Terri Mace
Jordan Davis
22
Chuck Pfaff
23
Betsy O’Meara
Mike Saleeby
Tommy Price
24
Margaret Wade
Anne Upchurch
Steve Price
25
Alan Leary Jr.
Marie Sawyer
Craig Willis
Christian Thomas
26
Fred Willis Jr.
Charles Willis Jr
Kevin Mancini
27
Suzanne Scott
Marjorie Kelley
28
Gates Eure
29
Christian Garner
Patrick Harrell
30
Mary Sue Noe
Billy Loyd
Jack Wagaman
31
Charlotte
Mirabella
Peggy Nicholson
Tony Small
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