The Winstead Connection

Transcription

1 To Know God, and to Make Him Known July, 2017 Greetings from Pastor George Loveland Over the past two months, I have felt the breath of Holy Spirit moving through the hearts of Winstead s members and friends, throughout Wilson, and into the wider world. I am deeply moved by the effort that so many of you, beginning with Pastor Paul Dunham, have made to reach out to my family, and to welcome us into your family. Pastor Paul has sown so many Kingdom seeds during his ministry at Winstead, and here at the beginning of our journey together, I am praying that we nourish them in a faithful and grace-filled way. In the coming months, I look forward to talking with each and every one of you in listening visits, to hear about what our church does well, what challenges and opportunities we face in the next one or two years, and especially how Winstead UMC has helped you to grow spiritually. Our Staff Parish Relations Committee will help organize these visits, and will report regularly to you on we what we are hearing. But I want to stress that you should not hesitate to contact me directly with any pastoral concern. My cell phone number is My conference is: george.loveland@nccumc.org, and I will also check the church regularly: pastor@winsteadumc.org. If you have to leave a voic , I will return your call before the end of the day. If it is a pastoral emergency, I will respond immediately. In conversations I have had so far, the word that comes up most frequently is family. It is clear that you take our mission statement seriously: Strengthening Children and Families so that ALL may Know God Better! I don t know about you, but in my experience, members of functional, lifesustaining families do not always agree on every question. They don t always (Continued on page 2)

2 From the Pastor Pastor George Loveland (Continued from page 1) think alike. They don t always act alike. And they don t always look alike. And unfortunately, even the strongest, most loving families sometimes fail to treat each other as the children of God that we are. We are fragile and broken creatures. But one thing families that reflect the unconditional love and grace of God do is stay at the table, even when the conversation is difficult. I am beginning to see that Winstead is this kind of family. We know that there is something beyond any socio-economic, gender, racial, ethnic, or political difference that might appear to separate us. This is the love and grace of God, incarnate in Jesus Christ, and moving among us as Holy Spirit. This is what we worship, and this is what brings us back to the table and keeps us there when the conversation gets difficult. John Wesley asked: Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? I believe that Winstead answers Wesley with a resounding Yes we can! But Winstead is family in a faithful and profound way that goes beyond the traditional model of nuclear family. Recall that Jesus was once told that his mother and brothers were worried about him and wanted to speak with him. And he responded: Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? And pointing to his disciples, he said, Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. (Matt 12: 48-50) Jesus calls us to step outside the boundaries of our nuclear family and invite in folks who ve never been part of our family before. Folks who look different, talk different, and think different from us. Winstead United Methodist Church has responded consistently and faithfully to our Savior s call to welcome all of God s children into the family. Our Hand-in- Hand ministry and Seeds of Hope Wilson proclaim to the world that all are welcome at our family s table, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. Our Red Wagon Ministry is a witness that we don t just sit in the sanctuary and wait for God s children to show up at the door, but we are willing to come into their communities, to meet them and pray with them, to stand with them and walk with them in their struggles --because that s what families do for one another. These are just a couple of examples of the many ways that we continue to expand our family, so that ALL may know God better. What an amazing witness this is for the children and youth of Winstead s family. We form their identities in Christ through Children s Choir, Children s Church, scouting, Vacation Bible School, LOG- OS, ECHO, confirmation class, youth retreats and Psalm 150. And we teach them--and show them--how faithful disciples respond to the Great Commission: Go therefore and make disciples of all (Continued on page 5) 2

3 Kids & Winstead WINSTEAD "Camp Out" On June 22 and 23 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Winstead United Methodist Church we had an awesome time learning some more about Jesus! This year's theme was "Jesus is the light of the world!" Each evening that is just what we did, as well as play games and worked on a project for our shut-ins. I would like to thank our UMW and Pam Marshburn for helping with the snacks and drinks! Thank you to Cissy, Barry, and Sara Parks, and Ann Baker for helping out with the kids craft project! A big thanks to Sanda Hight and her crew - Ashley Stillman, Kaitlyn Hansen and Wendy Hansen - for working with the children in Bible exploration! Thank you to Jocelyn Hernandez and Lori Snyder for working the nursery. Also thanks to Nathan Jenkins and all the parents, especially the Jenkins and the Kirbys, for helping out! A special thanks goes to Debbie Williams for playing Sally Spruce, Linda Lane for countless hours of help and registration and Nathan and Bethany Dunham for working with the preschoolers and painting all the characters and sign! A great time was had by all!! Marty Johnson Youth Director Family Winstead 8:30 pm - till Come and join us Friday night, July 7, as we meet at the new church property on Airport Boulevard! We will meet for an evening of stargazing, bonfire, s'mores, drinks and family fun! The cost is nothing but your time with your family! Make sure you bring a lawn chair or something to lay on! If you have a telescope please bring it. Call Marty to let him know if you're bringing one ( ). Drinks and snacks will be provided and maybe even a little music as well! Come and bring the whole family, just yourself, you and someone special, you and your whole neighborhood. It doesn't matter -just come and enjoy God's beautiful creation - the Heavenly celestial bodies! July 10-15: Youth Church Camp "Look Up Lodge" Please be praying for our young people as they head out to Travelers Rest, South Carolina to Camp Look Up Lodge! We will leave on Monday morning, July 10 at 7:30 am and return on Saturday, July 15, around 5 pm! If you have a youth or know of one that would be interested, please contact Marty and get the camp info and registration package. The cost is $200 per person! If you would like to help out our young people by giving a scholarship partial or full, or you would like to be a prayer buddy, please contact Marty. On Sunday night, July 9, those going to "LOOK UP" will meet at 5 pm to pack the trailer so that on Monday morning we can come a 7:30 am, load van, pray and head out!! If you have any other questions please contact me as well ( ). VBS and Youth pictures on page 7. July,

4 Opportunities to Serve Seeds of Hope Wilson By Priscilla Morello, Executive Director Seeds of Hope Wilson offers its best wishes to Mrs. Tonja Harris as she concludes her time at Vick Elementary School. She has been a guiding force for the past several years and we will miss her leadership. At this writing, we do not know where Mrs. Harris will be serving next but we are thankful for the foundation she has put in place and wish her well wherever she goes. Seeds of Hope Wilson has applied for several grants for the coming school year. We have heard about a couple and will be reporting on those in next month s newsletter. As we conclude this year I think it is important to take note of the monetary investment both Seeds of Hope Wilson and Hand-in-Hand has made in Vick Elementary School and the surrounding community. Seeds of Hope Wilson invested a total of $10,413 and the Hand-in-Hand Partnership of Winstead has invested $5,965 for a total of $16,378. With that being said and in light of the current year s outcome of poor student test scores, it seems to me that we are needed even more now than in the past. Seeds of Hope Wilson is in conversation with the Wilson County Schools and area partners about how to move forward to more effectively have an impact on the school and the community. If there are those in the congregation who would like to step up and join a planning team to assess how we can be more focused in addressing the needs of the students and families of this community, please let Fred or Sanda Hight or Priscilla Morello know of your interest. We will be meeting this summer to strategize how we might make some inroads and we ask for your prayers, your time and talents and your financial support as we move into a new season of stepped-up empowerment strategies for the coming school year. Got rhythm? Can you count to 4? Do you like to join others to have fun? GENESIS is looking for someone.. or two, or three or more.. to share the joy of ringing together! Join us to ring glory & praise! Call now to sign up! Rehearsals begin in September! 4

5 Opportunities to Serve Hand-in-Hand Ministry By Sanda Hight Hand-in-Hand activities for this year came to an end with the Wilson Education Partnership Community Partnership Celebration Breakfast on June 12. Priscilla Morello and Sanda Hight represented Hand-in-Hand and Seeds of Hope Wilson at this celebration of the work of community partnerships with Wilson County Schools for the school year. The Hand-in-Hand Committee will meet in August to work on our plans for partnership with Vick Elementary School for the school year. A sincere thanks goes to each person in our church family who has been part of our partnership with Vick Elementary School during this past school year. As information about the next school year becomes available, we will be calling on our church family for continued partnership activities with Wilson County Schools. United Methodist Women Jesus summons us to follow in his footsteps and to grow spiritually. He said to them, Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19 By Arlene Rech Hope everyone is having a good summer. Ladies will be bringing a salad luncheon on July 16 after church. Donations accepted. This will also be the welcome reception for Pastor George Loveland. Upcoming in August will be the Executive Meeting on August 15 at 6 pm with the general meeting to follow at 7 pm. Please come as we will be having elections of officers for Both meetings will be in the choir room. Pastor George (Continued from page 2) nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. (Matt 28: 16-20) We show them that Christian faith is a journey that begins with a strong and loving church family, and then we expand the boundaries of family to include all of God s children. Here...and here...and here...and over there--among those folks we haven t even met yet--are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. May God continue to bless the family of Winstead United Methodist Church, and may God strengthen and sustain us as we go forth, together, to make disciples of all nations. Amen. July,

6 July Events Summer Food Drive - May 28 to August 27 Sunday, July 23 9:45 am Sunday School for all ages 11:00 am Worship 5:00 pm ECHO Youth Sunday, July 2 9:45 am Sunday School for all ages 11:00 am Worship Tuesday, July 4 Office Closed Wednesday, July 5 No Choir practice Friday, July 7 8:00 pm Summer Family Night (pg. 3) Sunday, July 9 7:45 am UMM Men s Breakfast 9:45 am Sunday School for all ages 11:00 am Worship 5:00 pm ECHO Youth Tuesday, July 25 Newsletter Deadline Looking Ahead Tuesday, August 15 6 pm UMW Executive Meeting 7 pm UMW General Meeting New Telephone Number Mike and Priscilla Morello have a new phone number July Youth at Look Up Lodge (pg. 3) Sunday, July 16 9:45 am Sunday School for all ages 11:00 am Worship Noon UMW Salad Luncheon (pg. 7) Welcome reception for Rev. Loveland (pg. 7) NO ECHO Youth The Dunham family would like to thank all those who gave prayers, cards, gifts, and love to our family as we moved. We will treasure your love and friendship for a lifetime. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Blessings to you all. 6

7 Kids & Winstead Vacation Bible School Fun! Youth at Kings Dominion Magic Age News Magic Age will not meet in July or August. Join us on Tuesday, September 26 at noon for a covered dish lunch in Hood Hall. Susan Kellum, Downtown Marketing & Communications Coordinator for Wilson, will be our guest speaker. Welcome Rev. George Loveland There will be a welcome reception for our new pastor, Rev. George Loveland, and his wife, Rev. Tuck Taylor, on Sunday, July 16 (coinciding with the UMW Salad Lunch). Join us for lunch right after worship. Wear Your Name Tag Please remember to wear your name tag each Sunday. Take yours from the table to the right of the Sanctuary doors and return it after the service so it is available next week. If you don t have a name tag, contact the office. Thanks! July,

8 Winstead United Methodist Church 1407 Tarboro Street Wilson, NC Published monthly by: Winstead United Methodist Church 1407 Tarboro Street Wilson, NC Monday - Friday - 9:00 am - 1:00 pm winumc@centurylink.net Sunday Schedule Sunday School for All Worship 9:45 am 11:00 am Pastor : Rev. George Loveland pastor@winsteadumc.org