Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord

Transcription

1 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord Lori Barmer D uring a thunderstorm on the morning of June 24, a large tree crashed through the roof of the Greater Life Ministries church building. The church has about 75 members whose focus is outreach and donations to families who need them. Thankfully, no one was at the church at the time, and no one was hurt. Bishop Mary Baxter was planning a summer camp where about 20 kids were to take part in music classes, tutoring sessions and field trips. It was to begin the week following the storm. When First Cary got the news, it was decided that we could hold the camp at our facility. Christie Brown, Program Coordinator of Children s Ministries, said, While we often think of storms as the rough times, they can also be the times that we receive the most love and hope from God. A tree struck the small white church on the corner of Academy and 54 during a thunderstorm, so we were given the opportunity to host a camp for the past two weeks. We were entrusted with 20 children for 14 days to show God s love and grace. I thought that we were making their lives greater by doing crafts, feeding them hot food, taking them to fun places and spending time with them but in reality they were making my life greater. My body and mind have been weary this week, but my heart has grown by leaps and bounds. Showing God s grace and love is not always easy and certainly not always convenient for us, but let me tell you first hand, once you do, your life will be greater than you ever could have imagined. Adult servant, David Sinodis said he s thoroughly enjoyed working with the children. It s good to have a male presence, especially for the older boys in the camp. I ve watched them become more mature, learning how to play with the younger ones. The children s ages range from three- to thirteen-years-old. Tabarek Aliraqi, youth servant, agreed with David. It s about building relationships. Many kids have repeatedly told me that I am the nicest person they have ever known, Christie said. One day when doing crafts, some of the girls were singing the songs that I played every day from a VBS cd, songs about daring to care and going deeper into God s word. I asked Nick Castro, youth servant, if he thought the kids respected him. He said, I don t think it is respect as much as it is trust. Trust has grown between us. Wednesday afternoon the children went to Adventure Landing. Christine Hildebrand, Director of Leadership Development, asked A.J., an 11-year-old, how his day was, and he said, It was the best day of my life! Many thanks to the staff and servants who worked hard to give the Greater Life Ministries children the camp they deserved, and transportation to and from. And a special thank you to Dave and Debbie Allison for preparing meals and snacks every day for the camp. On the last day of camp, the children will be sent home with backpacks filled with school supplies. Be careful that you don t look down on one of these little ones. I say to you that their angels in heaven are always looking into the face of my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 18:10 August 22, 2014 Worship: Sunday Sanctuary: 8:25, 9:45, & 11:05 a.m. Sunday Celebration: 11:11 a.m. 117 South Academy Street Cary, NC Sunday 1st on Chatham: 9:45 a.m. The Cary, 122 E. Chatham Street, Cary, NC office: (919) pastor on call: (919) firstcary.com Lori Barmer Communications Coordinator If you have a testimony to share, we would love to hear from you! Please lbarmer@fumc-cary.org or call the church office. O LORD, let my soul rise up to meet you as the day rises to meet the sun.

2 c o n n e c t w i t h g o d Kairos 40: It Was Definitely God s Time I was in prison and you visited me. Matthew 25:36 Kairos Prison Ministry is an international organization which conducts programs for people serving in prisons. A group of First Cary men participate in the Kairos program that serves Central Prison, a maximum security facility for men located in Raleigh. The Kairos International website states, The mission of the Kairos Prison Ministry is to share the transforming love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ to impact the hearts and lives of incarcerated men, women and youth, as well as their families, to become loving and productive citizens of their communities, and their vision is, A community spiritually freed from the effects of imprisonment reaching all impacted by incarceration, through the love, hope, and faith found in Jesus Christ. First Cary member, Scott Hansen, is passionate about sharing the love of Christ through the Kairos Prison Ministry. Scott coordinates the cookie collection, prayer chains and meal tickets as a part of our church s prison ministry. My sincerest thanks to all of you who made cookies, prayed, bought meal tickets and lifted us up in other ways, said Scott. You, the church of Jesus, gave 167 dozen cookies! I gauge success during the three and a half days of Kairos by several things. One is the level of enthusiasm that is exhibited by the participants. There s a huge difference from Wednesday afternoon to Saturday afternoon. Two, the difference in the way the men bond with each other over the three and a half days. There are a lot more hugs and friendly talk than when they first come in. Three, is their witness during open mic on Friday and Saturday. When several of them get up and challenge the group not to leave what they have experienced in the gym, but to carry it out to the general population, they are following the Great Commission. Think how hard that would be in prison! It makes me sad that we hear Jesus lifted up each Sunday and fail to spread the Gospel when we re not in such a hostile environment! If anyone is interested in serving on the next Kairos weekend, February 4 through 7, 2015, please contact me at or me at warthog.sh@ gmail. com. You will be truly amazed by what God does in Central Prison! Lori Barmer, Communications Coordinator c o n n e c t w i t h p e o p l e United Methodist Men Present TUG The next scheduled monthly United Methodist Men s breakfast will be held Saturday, September 13. We always try to have a featured speaker or special presentation, and this time our program will be presented by the committee at our church nicknamed TUG. Wonder what it means? It s an acronym for Take Us Green. Our Trustees formed this committee because they recognized that we could be better stewards of God s earth. We weren t recycling and we were being wasteful. As a church, we were not doing what many of us do at home to be green. Barbara Settle, the TUG Chair, will describe our efforts to solve this problem. We have added recycling bins for cans and bottles. We have bins for waste paper. We are turning off lights and we had an energy audit. Working with the community garden, we are doing more composting. Join us for details and you might learn techniques that you can use at home. Bring the whole family at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 13 for the Best Breakfast in Town for $5. Please make reservations for this program by either calling the church office or registering at the church website. Larry Apel, VP Communications, UMM

3 connect with service Youth Mission Week The week of July 28, 2014, God blessed First Cary with 92 youth and 60 adults to selflessly serve the community through 13 local missions. Known as Youth Mission Week, all 6th through 12th-graders are offered the opportunity for five days each year to connect with God and people through the act of service. Youth Mission Week 2014 was kicked off and driven by the theme Do Something that embodied the call to conquer apathy and act as the physical hands and feet of God. Each morning began in a moment of worship as one youth led a devotional about the importance of service in the name of Jesus Christ. Whether it is to serve, love, comfort, or share the gospel, all is done in Jesus name. The afternoons were spent on the frontline as true and faithful servants. Mission opportunities included yard work for those who may not be able to do it themselves, volunteering at Dorcas, fellowshipping within the Southeast Raleigh community, delivering meals for Meals on Wheels, and performing acts of random kindness, or ARK, around the community. The youth were able to share their experiences with one another in reflection groups that closed out the day. The topic of conversation often became about how God presented Himself or how one may have seen God throughout the course of the day. When the youth were asked how Mission Week had impacted their relationship with Jesus Christ, the majority replied that they felt closer to God. One youth in particular wrote, It strengthened my relationship not only through the missions we did but also through the relationships I developed along the way. It helped me to help others. Service in the name of Jesus Christ is a powerful tool, and Mission Week teaches youth how to take that tool and use it towards the rebuilding of God s kingdom. Zach Ripberger, Ministry Intern

4 Favorite Scripture Psalm 104:10-14 (ceb) You put gushing springs into dry riverbeds. They flow between the mountains, providing water for every wild animal the wild donkeys quench their thirst. Overhead, the birds in the sky make their home, chirping loudly in the trees. From your lofty house, you water the mountains. The earth is filled full by the fruit of what you ve done. You make grass grow for cattle; you make plants for human farming in order to get food from the ground Pastors On-Call Your pastors continue to seek ways to provide you with quality pastoral care while balancing the other demands of ministry. In an effort to be available, we have an on-call system. If you need to reach a pastor in an emergency situation, you may call (919) to reach the on-call pastor for that week. There is also an option to dial this line directly when calling the church office. When you call this number, the pastor on call for the week will respond as soon as possible. Please be mindful when calling this number, as it is for true emergencies only. This includes a death, sudden critical hospitalization of a member, or other such situations. Pastoral care for non-emergencies, such as scheduled hospitalizations, can be arranged through the front office. A Note of Thanks from Greater Life Ministries Greetings Pastor Frazier, I m taking this opportunity to thank you and the wonderful members of your church that have assisted us with the summer camp this year. It has been a life-changing experience for the children that attended and I sincerely appreciate all that you have done. One of my hearts desires for the camp has always been that the children would leave smiling and happy after an enjoyable day of learning and fun-filled activities. God will forever bless you and your congregation for reaching out to help us. After the tree fell on our leased building, we were unsure how we would provide for the children and you all were an answer to our prayers. We are still in awe of how your church worked to ensure that the children were not disappointed. It is my sincere prayer for your continued blessings and I look forward to working with you all in the future. God s Richest Blessings, Bishop Mary V. Baxter, Greater Life Ministries Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. September 3 Youth Ministry Team Pork BBQ, boiled potatoes, green beans, slaw, Texas Toast Wednesday Night Connections Cost: $7 for adults, $6 for seniors 65+, $4 for children 12 and under, $22 max per family. RSVP no later than Tuesday the day before at noon by registering online in the events registration. Please stay and join us for one of our Wednesday Night Connections at 6:30 after dinner!

5 announcements Dorcas Ministries: Jobs for Life Dorcas will offer a class for those unemployed or underemployed starting in September called Jobs for Life. Graduates of the program will be able to speak more confidently in front of a group, have a professional resume, meet with local employers, be prepared and confident in job interviews, have a clearer picture of what they want in life and have a deeper faith in God s plan for them. Classes start September 11 and meet at Dorcas Ministries, 187 High House Road, Cary on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. To apply, visit the website: dorcas-cary.org, outreach@dorcas-cary.org or call , ext 201. Employment Opportunities Hispanic Community Liaison to direct all Hispanic community efforts within First Cary and the Methodist Children's Center (preschool) establishing relationships with Hispanic families and connecting them with community resources such as Dorcas Ministries, Alliance Medical Ministry and Interact as well as worshiping communities such as Fiesta Cristiana and Luz del Pueblo, United Methodist congregations. Visit for the position description. Please submit a cover letter and resume to Stacy Harrell at sharrell@fumc-cary.org The Methodist Children's Center needs substitute teachers for all classes. This is a great opportunity to work with children, have a flexible schedule and meet some wonderful families all while being paid! Applications and descriptions are available on the MCC website at or you may contact Alicia Shelton at ashelton@fumc-cary.org. Moms of Pre-Schoolers FUMCC MOPS 2 meets on the first and third Fridays, 9:30-11:45 a.m. from September May. MOPS is a place where moms can come to be encouraged and supported by other moms who are in the very same season of life and best of all, to make some great friends. Childcare is provided during our meetings. Join now to be included in summer playdates and moms night outs. For more information, please contact us at MOPS2.fumccary@ gmail.com. Library Book The book, The Will of God by Leslie Weatherhead has been missing from the library for about a year. Someone checked it out but put the title of the book where the person s name should be written on the card. The Library Committee would appreciate having the book returned as soon as possible. GriefShare GriefShare will be held August 7 through October 9 in room 125, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Progress in Waldo Street Construction Construction on Waldo Street is underway and progress is being made. The estimated completion date is now in mid-october. Periodic shut-downs of Waldo Street and limited access to the Waldo Street parking lot entrance will continue through this period. Access to the parking lot is always available from Walker Street. Currently, there is no parking at all on Waldo Street Monday through Friday. The section that is open must allow for two-way traffic, since during construction, it is a dead-end street. Orange traffic cones are in place to remind drivers not to park on the street. During Construction, parking is available at the following locations: 1. First Cary Parking Lot (corner of Waldo and Walker, please enter from Walker Street) 2. Chatham Street 3. Post Office (Waldo) - Please do not park in the post office parking lot Monday through Friday. Parking is available after 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and you may park there on Sundays. 4. Ashworth Village (Academy) 5. Cary Auto Lot (Chatham) 6. Kitchen & Bath Lot (Chatham) 7. Fidelity Bank Lot (Chatham) 8. Cary Municipal Lot/Train Station (Academy) If the businesses are open, please do not park in front of them. Habitat for Humanity Along with seven other churches in the Cary area our Church is once again financially sponsoring and helping to build a Habitat for Humanity home this year. The home will be located in White Oak Villas on 2nd Street in Apex, just across the street from the home we built last year. Our church needs to provide eight to nine servant volunteers on Saturday, September 6. All skill levels are welcome as well as youth ages 16 and up. To sign up and to get more details, please contact Mike Bailey at ragtopguy@mindspring.com or Note that all volunteer parking will take place in the Sovereign Grace Church parking lot located at 401 Upchurch Street, Apex because there is no parking at the construction site. After check-in from 8:00 to 8:15 a.m., a welcome and orientation will occur each day, and then servants will walk to the site from the Sovereign Grace Church. The work day lasts until 4:00 p.m., with a lunch break from 12:00 noon to 12:30 p.m. Tools are available at the site, although you may bring your own if you wish. A hammer, nail apron, tape measure, pencil, hat and utility knife are suggested. Gleaning Coordinator(s) Needed Please contact Kim Adkison at adkisonp@mindspring.com or if you feel led to serve as gleaning coordinator or co-coordinator. Thank you!

6 His Way to Start the Week: Women's Bible Study Mondays, August 25-May 18, 9:30-11:30 a.m., in room 201. We are a group of women in all seasons of life, who come together to grow and support each other in our faith journey. Join us this fall for an inspirational year of study. Over the course of the year, we will be encountering God's word through the following short term studies: The Shack - One session book discussion Believing God by Beth Moore (Fall Study) Christmas is Not Your Birthday (Advent Study) Crossroads - One session Book discussion The Way by Adam Hamilton (Lenten Study) One in a Million by Priscilla Shirer (Spring Study) A $40 fee will include the following materials: Believing God workbook, The Way participant book, One in a Million participant book. Copies of Christmas is Not Your Birthday will be available to check out. You will need to purchase The Shack and Crossroads on your own. Table Talk Begins September 3 Looking for a small group? Our Table Talk series, from September until Lent, will be a book by book introductory study of the New Testament. Join us on Wednesday evenings (at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall) as together we will study the New Testament from Matthew through Revelation. Fellowship Feast Join us for dinner before Table Talk (at 5:30 p.m.) Please visit firstcary.com to RSVP for dinner or to sign your group up to host a meal. Walking Groups Forming The Health Ministries team is currently making plans to form Walking Groups. If you are interested in joining or leading a group, please contact Christin Simpson, Health Ministries chair, at csimpson519@gmail.com. Koinonia Class to Begin New Study Beginning Sunday, August 31, the Koinonia Sunday school class (room 124) will begin their study of The Beatitudes for Today by Rev. Dr. James Howell. He is the senior pastor of Myers Park United Methodist Church in Charlotte, NC, and will be our featured speaker during MannaFest weekend (September 26-28). JOY Breakfast Join the JOY group Thursday, August 28 for breakfast at IHOP. We meet at 8:30 a.m. at 1301 Kildaire Farm Road. No registration necessary. JOY Appreciation Banquet You are cordially invited to attend the JOY Group's Appreciation Banquet Thursday, September 18 in the Fellowship Hall. Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. The price of admission is one canned good. There will be entertainment and a special award. You must pre-register by September 10. You may visit pl?dir=f7x4c6bl_2014 to RSVP. Plan To Make It Right Brown-Wynne Cary and Apex Funeral Homes are sponsoring an information session Wednesday, September 10 at 11:00 a.m. The workshop will be held at Waltonwood Senior Living in their main dining room and lunch will be provided. The program will include: Lunch, Conversation and Helpful Advice Regarding Pre-Planning Question and Answer Session: Options for Burial or Cremation Learning about Veteran Benefits Waltonwood Senior Living is located at 750 SE Cary Parkway, Cary, NC Please RSVP by September 8 by calling Staci Stewart at CONCERNS Jan Hedberg, Ed Kleitz, Anne Wells, Elaine Gibson, Pat Bishop, Bill Garmon, Wesley Dukes, David Parker, Toney McDonald, Megan Cannady FAMILY Jerry Bornman (brother of Joe Bornman), Rae Wrenn (mother of Debbie Pender), Everett June (great-grandson of Janet Robel), Lea Clayton (daughter of Lori Barmer), Jane Barmer (mother of Lori Barmer), Billy Colson (father of Sandy Lawrence), Norman Cook (father of Floyd Cook), Pam Wylie (mother of Emily Harter), Claire Latham (mother of Barbara Marley), Caroline Wagner (daugher-in-law of Debbie and Ted Wagner), Ariane Gruber (niece of Phillip Armand), Mary Ann Rhoades (sister-inlaw of Brenda Stutts), Tommy Meeks (brother-in-law of Suzanne Gordon), Lawrence Larry Brown (father of Jonathan Brown), Larry and Joan Hamilton (parents of Nancy Briggs), Rosalie Gothard (mother of Evan Gothard), Emmett Sugg (brother of Ann Leary), William Mills (father of Connie Deth), Rogelio Bohorquez (father of Diego Bohorquez), Jeff Peterson (brother of Jenn George), Julie Mitchell (sister of Barbara Settle), Maggie Moore (granddaughter of Charlie Hatch) Worship Attendance August 10 August 17 SANCTUARY: CELEBRATION: st ON CHATHAM TOTAL: 1,058 1,085