february 2017 the first word - first united methodist church...
TRANSCRIPT
First United Methodist Church
264 North Main Street
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
www.fumcrutherfordton.org
Vol. 5, No. 6
The First Word February 2017
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
UMW would like to extend a warm invitation to all women of First United
Methodist Church to visit one of our circle meetings. The Agape Circle
meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm at the Perry-
Moore House, and the Betty Wolfe Circle will meet on the following
days:
April 11, 2017
July 11, 2017
October 10, 2017
January 9, 2018
The Purpose of United Methodist Women
The organized unit of the United Methodist Women shall be a
community of women whose purpose is to know God and to
experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ, to develop
a creative, supportive fellowship and to expand concepts of Mission
through participation in the Global Ministries of the church. (Discipline
256.4, Art. 3)
For more information, contact Lucy Flack, Chair of The Betty Wolfe Circle
or Karen Ruhl, Chair of The Agape Circle.
TOT LEARNING
CENTER
Registration for the
2017-18 school year
begins on Sunday,
February 12th for
Church Members. On
Monday, February
13th registration is
open to TLC Students
and TLC Siblings.
Public Registration
begins on Monday,
February 20th at 8:00
am in the TLC
Preschool Office.
Registration forms are
available on the First
Church website,
outside the preschool
office and on the
main floor outside the
church office. A $50
registration fee must
accompany each
registration.
Please share this
information with
relatives, friends, and
new people in the
community. If you
would like to have
more information, call
Kathy Watson our TLC
Director at 828-980-
3368. She will be
happy to assist you!
The Tot Learning Center Preschool
does not discriminate on the basis
of race in the administration of its
educational policies, admission
policies, scholarships, and other
school administered programs.
THINGS TOO WONDERFUL FOR ME
— A Pastoral Word from Sydnor
We live in a world of constant change. I guess technology drives much of it. I’m told the little smart
phone I carry around in my shirt pocket has more processing power than the computer on board
Apollo 11 that took Neil Armstrong to the moon. Everything seems to be online these days. Our first
inclination when we face a health problem or someone asks a difficult question is to “google” it.
And amazingly the answer is often easily found!
In many ways, it’s an almost magical era we’re living in, isn’t it? 3-D printers have the power to
produce almost anything we can imagine—even human body parts like bone and ear tissue! Just
“google” it if you don’t believe me!
Of course, there is a dark side to these advances. The internet that can educate can also become
the engine of mass disinformation. Malevolent hackers can break in to “secure” systems and throw
national elections into chaos. The very industries that have brought prosperity to so many have
altered the earth’s atmosphere and its oceans to a point where even the most determined skeptic
finds it difficult to deny that climate change is a fact.
In this age of both marvels and of horrors, when it seems the world is falling apart and the center no
longer holds, anxiety and fear can become our constant companions. But it is precisely here, where
things fall apart and life becomes unmanageable that God meets us and reminds us that he is the
ground of our being.
The Psalmist writes in Psalm 46:
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
As we face the uncertainties of life, we need not be afraid. The God who has created us and who
loves us beyond our imaginings meets us when everything else falls apart. May we turn to him in
faith and remember the One who watches over us. As he promises us in Psalm 121: “The Lord will
keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and
going both now and forevermore.”
Yours in faith,
Page 2
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE
March 1, 2017
6:30pm
Page 3
THE FOLLOWING MONETARY GIFTS HAVE
BEEN RECEIVED:
In honor of Bryan Basden, by James & Lynne
Vinson, designated for the General Budget.
In memory of Jack Flack, father of Ken Flack,
by the Chancel Choir, Harry & Patricia
Harrelson, designated for the Music Fund: by
Alan & Sherry Henderson, designated for the
General Budget.
In memory of Melba Powell, mother of Jeff
Powell, by Alan & Sherry Henderson,
designated for the General Budget.
In honor of Pete & Joyce Russell, by John &
Cheryl Russell, designated for the Food Pantry.
In memory of Jimmy Tanner, Sr., by Ron &
Dorothy Parker, designated for the Fellowship
Center Roof Fund; by Alan & Sherry
Henderson, David & Debbie Best, designated
for the General Budget; by the Fellowship
Sunday School Class, designated for Soul
Food; Shirley Koone, designated for Local
Missions; Joyce Gray, designated for
Welcome Table; Norvin & Lydia Clontz,
designated for the Music Fund (organ).
In memory of Janet Toney, by Phillip & Judy
Melton, Patricia Harrelson, John & Vivian
Champion, designated for the Music Fund
(organ).
NEXT NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
February 16 at 12:00 noon
SUNDAY BULLETIN DEADLINE
Every Monday at Noon
Send information for Newsletter & Bulletin to [email protected]
FRIENDSHIP CLUB NEWS
The Friendship Club would like to give our
thanks to the congregation and staff of First
Church and all groups for whom have
donated so much of their personal lives to our
program and children. This includes, but is not
limited to, time, money, books, thoughts and
ideas, tangible rewards (toys, bags, games,
jewelry) for the kids to earn and/or purchase
with reward tokens, and so much more.
“I, Alice Wright, as the Director of the
Friendship Club cannot express the level of
appreciation, support, faith and love I feel
when Friendship Club is acknowledged.
Whether it is in spoken or written words, it hits
the same. Positive and negative are soaked
into my soul equally. Bobbie Tedford, Linda
Tribou and I thank you for entrusting us with
such an important piece of life’s puzzle.”
If you are looking to fill an hour of your
Monday or Wednesday with energy, smiling
faces, perplexity and enriching the lives of
some awesome kids, please contact me at
[email protected], the church
office or 919-302-9008. We could use
donations of first aid kit supplies, hand or baby
wipes, Mr. Clean erasers for the walls and your
prayers.
Love and Blessings to you all,
Alice Wright
NEON meets on Sunday Nights from 5:00-
7:00 pm in the Youth Center! Come shine
Christ's light through Bible study, games,
food, and fellowship! Doors open at 4:30
and dinner begins at 5:00!
WANT THE CHANCE TO HAVE LUNCH BROUGHT TO YOU
AT SCHOOL? Every time you come to a youth event,
you can enter for the chance to have lunch brought
to you by Beau! You can get information forms directly
from Beau or you can find it on the church website.
YOUTH NEWS
HEBREWS MORNING DEVOTION
HeBrews meets before school from 6:30-
7:15 am at the Boy Scout Hut. Come start
your day off right and enjoy a mid-week
pick-me-up of coffee, breakfast, and a
youth-led devotion!
Be sure to check our website and
Facebook page to see what’s
happening in our ministries!
Please complete a 2016-2017 Youth
Information Form if you have not already.
Forms can be found on the Youth Bulletin
board.
Page 4
Youth Led Service March 19th, 2017 We will begin preparing on Sunday nights during NEON for our
Annual Youth Led Service happening on March 19th, 2017 during
the 8:45 & 11:00 am service. If there is a student who has a special
interest in participating or performing during the service, please let
Beau know so we can find a place for them within our service.
Students participating will be expected to participate in both
services. We will have dress rehearsals on March 12th (during NEON)
and March 18th from 5-8 pm.
February 5th @ 12:15 in the Youth Center
Keep up with
everything
happening in
FUMC’s Youth
Ministry! Sign up
for our Text
Updates!
This Spring, our High School Seniors will be given
the opportunity to lead NEON for a night! This is
a great opportunity to show leadership in our
youth ministry (and even get some volunteer
hours or a resume boost!) Don’t miss The Senior
Experience!
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday school starts at 9:45 in the SHINE Room
on the 1st Floor for games, music, and our
week’s Bible Story. Lots of fun things happening
each week - crafts, games, and, most
importantly, Jesus!!
BIRTHDAY LUNCH LIST Mr. Beau wants to bring you lunch to school
for your birthday! Turn your information forms
in to the church office or to Mr. Beau and
you’ll be added to the list! You can get
information forms directly from Beau or you
can find it on the church website.
CHILDREN’S CORNER
Be sure to check our website and Facebook
page to see what’s happening in our
ministries!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Interested in volunteering on Sunday mornings
in our Children’s Ministry? There are SO many
ways that you can be a part of this growing
ministry. The more volunteers we have in our
many rotations, the more they can do! You can still volunteer without giving up your
Sunday School class or service experiences
every Sunday. YOU can make a difference in
our church and ministry by serving our
children! Let us know how you might like to
serve:
https://www.jotform.com/beaulunceford/
fumc-ministry-volunteer-submission
OR email [email protected]
During the 11:00 am service, all children are
invited to come to sit at the altar for Children's
Time with Rufus the Rabbit to hear a kid-
geared Bible lesson! After Children’s Time, all
children ages 4 through 2nd Grade will be
invited to go with our adult volunteers to the
SHINE Room for the duration of the service.
This program has activities, crafts, storytelling,
games and more as children learn on their
level about Jesus and the church. We hope
this program will encourage families and
children to come and
experience God on
Sunday mornings!
Our next curriculum for
Children's Church this
season is called "The
Bible: Lights, Camera.
Action!"
Page 5
PRESCHOOL
This month our First
Look theme is “So Big”
w h e r e o u r
Preschoolers will learn
that “Jesus Loves Me”.
Each week, they will
experience stories like,
Jesus visits Mary &
Martha, Jesus calls the
Children, Jesus Helps the Centurion, and A
Woman Shows Great Love for Jesus.
Kindergarten—5th Grade This month our 252 Basics theme is “Behind the
Scenes: Finding Love in Every Story” where our
children will learn that “Love is choosing to treat
others the way you want to be treated”. Each
week, they will experience stories like, No
Greater Love (John
15:12-13), Jesus
Calms the Storm
(Mark 1:35-41), Jesus
Feeds 5,000 (Mark
6:30-44), and The
Good Samaritan
(Luke 10:27-37).
April 9th—Palm Sunday Kids
Procession @ 11:00 am &
Easter Egg Hunt &
Luncheon @ 12:00 pm
April 16th—Easter Sunday;
Kids will be performing at the 11:00 am Worship
Service
STORIES OF CHRIST’S LIGHT SHINING
“Everyone has a story,” or so they say. But I dare say that not everyone has a story as life changing
as Todd’s.
Todd Snaith moved to North Carolina from California to get away from the smog, the congestion,
the race that always seemed to be there. More specifically, he moved to Rutherfordton after
looking at possibilities in Charlotte, Asheville, and Lake Norman.
After buying a house and settling here, he spent time traveling the northeast and several European
countries. “What now?” he asked himself.
Todd had no idea what was to come!
What was to come actually started as he was on his way to the paint store. He saw a man, a
neighbor, by the side of the road trimming his shrubs, so Todd stopped to introduce himself. “It didn’t
take 5 minutes of conversation for him to let me know he was a Christian and to invite me to this
church,” Todd explained.
The neighbor also invited him to play golf and the 4-some did this for several months. “I watched
these men,” he said, “and there was something different. I didn’t know just what it was, but I knew I
wanted to be part of it.”
After another invitation to visit their church, Todd decided to go. “I sat way in the back. I wanted to
be able to slip out and not be noticed.”
But something (or someone) got his attention. He began to start working some in the church kitchen
and became more involved. He met more church people. He acquired a mentor, but he continued
to ask a lot of questions about himself and about this thing called “Christianity”.
“After about a year, I wondered if I should leave,” he admitted.”I had been baptized as a child, but
I had never been a practicing Christian.”
Then Todd got involved with the Emmaus Walk. “It changed my life!” he stated.
The walk focused him to life as a practicing Christian and focused him as to where he wanted to go.
“God is not as interested in changing our circumstances as in changing us as a person.”
Since then Todd has taken the Lay Servant (used to be called ‘Lay speaker’) courses, is serving as
District President of the Methodist Men, has filled pulpits, and is on tract to complete a 5 year course
of study to qualify as a local pastor.
The Light of Christ has filled the life and spirit of Todd Snaith. He will be the first to give credit for
sharing that light to the people of First Church. “Why bother with me?” he has asked. “I had a
rebellious spirit. I was a stranger from California!”
But when The Light shines, it will not be extinguished! God’s people were Todd’s mentors, and as
one of them said, “When you see the light of Christ in others, you can more clearly see it in yourself!”
Todd’s story is not finished. In fact, it has really just begun. As he remarked, “I’m a work in progress.”
Thanks be to God, so are we all!
(Thanks to Todd for sharing so openly. Would you let us tell your story? Call or email Shirley Koone:
287-3730 or [email protected])
Page 6
FEBRUARY WORSHIP ASSISTANTS
Greeters (8:45)
First Sunday Ken & Diane Sanford
Second Sunday Phil & Donna Carver
Third Sunday Rory & Jeannie Kiser
Fourth Sunday Eric & Terri Wells
Greeters (11:00)
First Sunday David & Debbie Best
Second Sunday Jeep & Johnnie Martin
Third Sunday Randy & Louanne McDaniel
Fourth Sunday Van & Susie King
Sound System
First Sunday Ed Bosgra
Second Sunday Joy Piper
Third Sunday Russell Wicker
Fourth Sunday Eric Wells
Ushers (8:45) Ken Sanford, Pete Russell,
Doug Melton
Ushers (11:00) Joe Carson, United Methodist
Women
Bread Makers
First Sunday Ellie Miller
Second Sunday Donna Carver
Third Sunday Donna Watkins
Fourth Sunday Diane McMillan
Acolyte (11:00 am)
First Sunday Meg Prevatt
Door Steppers
First Sunday Jeep & Johnnie Martin
Second Sunday Dillard & Carolyn Morrow
Third Sunday Bud & Joy Deck
Fourth Sunday Charlie & Emily Yelton
Page 7
WINTER “OUTERWEAR” COLLECTION
We would be happy to receive coats, jackets,
vests, scarves, hats, and gloves to share with
our Welcome Table friends. Please do not
bring shirts, pants, or shoes.
Place donations in the plastic tote in the
church office. Thank you for being willing to
share warm items during this winter season.
HOSPICE HAPPENINGS
Thanks to everyone who has been so faithful
to put items in the Hospice box located at the
Donation Station corner by the church office.
These items are greatly appreciated by so
many. A complete list of items needed is
located on the church bulletin board. Items
can be placed in the box at anytime and will
be taken directly to Hospice. If you have any
questions about how you can be a Hospice
volunteer or about Hospice donations, please
call Cheryl Waddingham, FIA – 429-2296.
Thank you!
FREE STUDY RESOURCES!
Thousands of free Bible studies and other
resources are available for your Sunday
School class or small group from the Western
North Carolina Resource Center (aka The
Fishin' Hole). Browse the catalogue at http://
www.wnccumc.org/grow-learn/fishin-hole.
For questions, contact Sonja Clough at
SAVE THE DATE!!!
Operation Inasmuch
Saturday, April 29, 2017
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH STAFF
Phone: (828) 287-3704
Sydnor Thompson, Ext. 102 Beau Lunceford, Ext. 106
Pastor Director of Children’s & Youth Ministry
[email protected] [email protected]
Patricia Harrelson, Ext. 114 Glenda Fuhrmann, Ext. 115
Director of Music Organist
[email protected] [email protected]
Pam Craft, Ext. 100 Karen Ruhl, Ext. 101
Administrative Assistant Receptionist
[email protected] [email protected]
Kathy Watson, Ext. 103 Alice Wright, Ext. 112
TLC Preschool Director Friendship Club Director
[email protected] [email protected]
First United Methodist Church
264 North Main Street
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
We’re on the Web!
www.fumcrutherfordton.org
Find us on Facebook!