Pentecost Sunday is May 15!

Transcription

1 I hope you ll come hear Rabbi Sperling, during the Sunday school hour, on April 3, in the overflow room. If you attended worship with us on Holy Thursday then you know about the connection between the Jewish Passover and the Christian sacrament of the Lord s Supper. In a similar way, the Jewish Harvest Festival (Shavuot) is connected to the Christian celebration of Pentecost. The date for Shavuot is linked to that of Passover for Jews, just as the date for Pentecost is linked to that of Easter (50 days later) for Christians. The early disciples of Jesus were called followers of the way. When Jesus was still alive on earth, they still thought of themselves as Jews, and would have celebrated Shavuot which, in addition to its harvest implications, was also about receiving the 10 commandments. Previously they looked to the Old Covenant for salvation (the law and the 10 commandments), but Jesus Christ increasingly became the New Covenant (and the new law) for them. Just as Shavuot continues to celebrate the law given at Sinai, Pentecost for Christians, in part, is a time when we celebrate the New Covenant we have in Jesus. More significantly for followers of Jesus today, Pentecost is a time to celebrate the work of the Holy Spirit. It sounded like a very strong wind, and it looked like tongues of fire. The disciples then found themselves speaking in foreign languages, inspired by the Holy Spirit. People passing by at first thought that they must be drunk, but Peter told them that he, and his cohorts, were full of the Holy Spirit instead (Acts 2). Finally, followers of Jesus today see Pentecost as a time to celebrate the birth of the church. The church is a different kind of community, bound together by the New Covenant in Jesus, and born out Pentecost Sunday is May 15! of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Just as the ancients spoke to others about Jesus through the power of the Spirit, we are called to speak of him today. Sadly, some treat the Holy Spirit as if it were an appendix, ancient anatomy, with a purpose that is not understood, and maybe not needed, today. That s not the Holy Spirit described in the Bible. The Holy Spirit, dwelling within us, is an essential part of being a Christian (1 Cor. 3:16). In fact, many are coming to believe that the Holy Spirit is that which is needed, for the followers of Jesus, and the church as a whole, to face the challenges of our time. Just as the ancients gathered for a celebration at Pentecost, we are planning a celebration at First Church on May 15 th, Pentecost Sunday. We ll have a different Spirit celebration in the fellowship hall between the services, different children s games, and more. Please bring a flame themed snack to share. We ll have a new Spirit display for worship from Ada Seabright. Of course, everyone is encouraged to wear red to our services and activities that day. We ll also be launching a 6 part worship series on the Holy Spirit that morning. Shalom, The Rev. Will White

2 Long-term recovery begins for survivors of Virginia February 24 tornadoes. On Wednesday, Feb. 24, a deadly storm system spawned multiple tornadoes that swept from southern Virginia across the state and into the Northern Neck. In Waverly, two houses and a mobile home were completely destroyed. Three people two men and a two-year-old child were killed. In Tappahannock, at least 50 structures were damaged. In Appomattox, more than 50 structures were destroyed and more than 100 were damaged. Evergreen UMC sustained significant damage to its roof, and teams were called in immediately to install tarps and strengthen the structure to prevent further damage. Within hours after the storms struck, Virginia Conference Early Response Teams (ERT) were called into action under the direction of the Rev. Bob Pihlcrantz, Virginia Conference Disaster Response coordinator, and the Rev. Kirk Culpepper, Virginia Conference ERT coordinator. Most ERT volunteers completed their tasks within a week after the storms. Communities in Appomattox (Farmville District) and Rappahannock and Tappahannock in Essex County (Fredericksburg District) are ending the relief phase of disaster response and now getting ready to start transition to long-term recovery. The focus is to establish a list of potential United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) teams that can begin long-term recovery work around April 1. But Pihlcrantz said a lot of work will need to be done between now and April 1. Just because we are not deploying teams right now, he said, doesn t mean we aren t working. We are getting ready for the long haul. This is not a sprint, it is a marathon and based upon current information, it is probably a two- to threeyear recovery process. The decision to move into long-term recovery drives other issues, Pihlcrantz said. First, the conference disaster plan calls for hiring a Long-Term Recovery Manager, Construction Manager and a Case Manager." he said. "Funding for these positions would be made by applying for an initial grant from UMCOR for $100,000 as soon as possible. In addition, we must start the grant process for asking UMCOR for grant monies for rebuild projects. Pihlcrantz emphasized the importance of raising funds within the conference to help with immediate needs. It s donations we receive from churches in the Virginia Conference that will get the recovery projects started, he said. Pihlcrantz noted that the Virginia Conference has not experienced a disaster of this magnitude requiring long-term recovery since Hurricane Floyd devastated Franklin in I will be asking for training assistance from UMCOR, Pihlcrantz said, and for the North Carolina Conference Disaster Response Team to come to Virginia to assist us in setting up our recovery operation. This is a great example of our connection at work. Please also continue to pray, pray and then pray again, Pihlcrantz said. Your conference team and all the ERTs are volunteers. There has been and will continue to be extreme self-sacrifice in order to help our communities heal from these tragic events. We are in mission and ministry, the hands and feet of Christ. Funds are needed to help coordinate preparation, response and recovery in the conference during times of disaster including providing personnel needed, equipment required and Christian witness that is desired in such situations. To contribute to Virginia Conference disaster response and recovery efforts, you can make a gift through your local church. Or, make your check payable to Virginia United Methodist Conference and send it to the Virginia Conference Treasurer, P.O. Box 5605, Glen Allen, VA Designate Conference Advance #5037 Disaster Response on your check or apportionment statement. (Reprinted with permission, The Virginia Advocate, April 2016.) -Linda S. Rhodes is Virginia Conference director of Communications.

3 JOIN US EVERY SUNDAY AT 8:30 AND 11AM FOR THESE SPECIAL SERVICES, BUILT WITH YOUR CHILDREN IN MIND. APRIL 3, 2016 CHILDREN'S CHURCH 8:30 AM AND 11:00 AM JESUS' FIRST MIRACLE JOHN 2: 1-11 Jesus first miracle happened at a wedding and was kept a secret from most of the guests, but the disciples and servants knew exactly what happened! APRIL 10, 2016 CHILDREN'S CHURCH 8:30 AM AND 11:00 AM JESUS CONTROLS THE WEATHER MATTHEW 8 : God is the only one who has the power to make creation due what he wants. In this miracle the disciples learned that Jesus had God's power because he was His Son.

4 APRIL 17, 2016 CHILDREN'S CHURCH 8:30 AM AND 11:00 AM FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISH LUKE 9 : Jesus did the miracle of providing food for 5,000 people, but the disciples were the ones who gave out the food. APRIL 24, 2016 CHILDREN'S CHURCH 8:30 AM AND 11:00 AM JESUS WALKS ON THE WATER MARK 6 : Jesus used his miracles to teach people about who he was: the Son of God. When he walked on the water, he was showing his disciples that the laws of nature did not control him he controlled them, just like God. NOT ONLY DOES FUMC OFFER AN AMAZING CHILDREN S CHURCH PROGRAM BUT WE ALSO OFFER A NURSERY FOR INFANT AND TODDLERS. THE NURSERY IS OFFERED DURING BOTH SERIVCES AND DURING SUNDAY SCHOOL.

5 THE YOUTH GROUP OF FUMC will be hitting the paintball field at Skyline Paintball on Sunday, April 3rd. Anyone that is interested in participating will need to fill out the consent form located in the back of the sanctuary and return it to the church office the week prior. JoEllen Smith has graciously agreed to provide lunch for those participating that day. We will eat at the church after the 11am service, then leave for Strasburg. Cost of participation will be $20 a person and the church will cover all other expenses. Hope to see you there! THE MAVERICK CLASS would like to invite anyone who is interested to attend their class meeting on Sunday, April 3, at 9:45am in the overflow room. Rabbi Scott Sperling of the Beth El Temple of Winchester, VA, will come to explain the Jewish Festivals of Passover, Day of Atonement, Feast of Weeks, and Festival of Booths. NEWCOMERS CLASS - Would you like to learn more about First United Methodist Church and our ministry downtown? Would you like to learn what membership means? If so, please join us for the two part Newcomers Class. The class will be held two consecutive Sunday mornings (April 10 and 17), at 9:45am in the sanctuary. If interested, please fill out the form located on your Tear Sheet. WORSHIP DANCE CLASS - Dianne Wright of FUMC attended a Worship Dance Conference on April 1-2. She is excited to share with the congregation what she had learned. We hope you will join Dianne in the Fellowship Hall on April 10 at 9:45am as she shares her experience and provides some demonstrations. COMPANIONS IN CHRIST - Beginning Thursday, April 14 at 10am (in the Parlor) members of FUMC will begin a 28week spiritual journey called Companions in Christ. The hope of the Companions group is that we as Christ-followers will learn to listen deeply to God together. Our prayer is that as we meet to engage in spiritual practice, we will become the presence of Christ in the world. As we meet together, listen for God, and respond to what you hear, we expect to be transformed. Keep an eye on your Tear Sheet in your weekly bulletin to register for this class or contact the church office at (540) Participants will need to purchase a copy of the book (book price is $20). We hope you will join us! Prayer (In anticipation of Pentecost Sunday, May 15) Please join Rev. White in praying the following prayer from April 15 to May 15 (Pentecost Sunday). Please pray it each work day (however you choose to define that) when you get up in the morning. Eternal God, by the Spirit you formed your church to be the body of Jesus on earth, and have claimed me, and others, to be a part. Help all of us, and me, to recognize the Spirit s work. Renew, revive, and strengthen all of us, and me, through the power of the Holy Spirit, guided by the teaching and example of the apostles, to tell of Christ s amazing work, in own lives, and in the lives of others throughout the church, so that your kingdom may spread across Winchester, Fredrick County, and the world. I pray these things in the name of the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.

6 APPLE BLOSSOM SEATS - The UMM are selling seats for Apple Blossom. Seats are located at 800 S. Stewart Street. Pricing is as follows: Friday s Fireman s Parade front row seats are $4 and second row $3, Saturday s Grand Feature Parade front row seats are $5 and second row $4. If you are interested in purchasing seats please contact Bobby Dick at (540) or the church office at (540) Reservations are first come, first serve; money is due at time of reservation. Native American Awareness Offering, April 17, 2016 The people of The United Methodist Church, Native and non-native, are creating a new history together. Through the Native American Ministries Sunday offering, we re able to equip and empower Native American pastors, congregations and seminary students to do what only they can do: authentically worship and serve Jesus. Your gift, on this day, equips Native congregations like New York s Onondaga Nation UMC and Nebraska s Native American Sacred Winds congregation to worship and serve as only they can. This work, and hundreds of other ministries, are possible because you give. First United Methodist Church s Vacation Bible School is 2016 Pet s Unleashed June 13-17, 9am 11:30am Kids are crazy for critters with whiskers, tails, feathers, or scales! That's why kids will think this VBS is the cat's meow. During Pet s Unleashed VBS, we'll introduce kids to Jesus, God s Son, who lovingly cares for us. Let's fetch some fun! You can download the registration form from the FUMC website. Click the tab that says VBS, print the form, and mail it to First United Methodist Church, 308 N. Braddock St., Winchester, VA, 22601, c/o Allison Allyson, VBS Director and Discovery Preschool Director. Kids age 3-10 are welcome to participate. Volunteers are needed to help with games, snacks, and as kid herders. Please call Mrs. Sarah Messick, Office Manager ( ) if can assist. The VBS mission offering this year will support Heifer International through the United Methodist Church. Heifer International provides disadvantaged families around the world with farm animals, which improves the lives, and the lives of others living in the same community. Day of prayer As the spiritual leaders of The United Methodist Church, the Council of Bishops conceived the plan for a prayer vigil in the months leading up to the Annual Conference as a meaningful way to focus spiritually on the experience, as well as to surround the delegates and church leaders with prayer for a General Conference that inspires us in our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Bishop Young Jin Cho has selected Sunday, April 10, to be the day for the Virginia Conference prayer vigil. Please join us in praying the attached prayer that day: Oh Lord, we come to offer our praise and thanksgiving for your presence and gifts, your mercy and grace. We come to ask for strength and courage as we pray for our General Conference, for the delegates and for your United Methodist Church. We pray Lord, hold your delegates in the palm of your hand. Give them wisdom, compassion and understanding and a willingness to make difficult and necessary decisions to strengthen and grow your church as we walk this journey together. We acknowledge Lord that we are a diverse people, of different cultures, understandings, biases, beliefs and desires. Instill in us a sense of the Body of Christ, that we may in our differences be one Body of Christ. Where there is division, lead us to compromise and unity and maintain our focus on your mission that you have for us in the world, to make disciples in relationship with you. Give all delegates a love for your church a desire not only to serve you as we now can but also a determination to bring unity to divided churches, that the world may more readily receive the Gospel and find in our manner of living it out the way of peace and unity. Through Christ who is the head of the body, the church. Amen.

7 Part of the Easter offering went to fund making School Kits for UMCOR. These kits are dispersed internationally, but some also remain here in the States, even in our own Virginia, depending on where the needs arise. In some countries, children don't have books or school supplies. Many have no schoolrooms; classes are held in inadequate or half-destroyed buildings, tents, or even the open air. School kits may be these children's only educational resources. We will take donations of any of the items listed below and we will purchase whatever we need to make the kits complete. Thank you for your donations of time or supplies. A box will be located in the Narthex after EASTER for members to deposit items into. If you have any questions, feel free to direct them to Stacey Stickley, , or sstickley@potomacpsych.com School Kit Materials 1 pair blunt scissors Rounded tip only; No plastic scissors, please. 3 pads of paper Spiral- or top-bound pads; 150 sheets or less of loose-leaf paper can be substituted for 1 pad; Combination of spiral, top-bound, side-bound, or loose-leaf paper is acceptable; No composition books, please. 1 hand-held pencil sharpener Must be at least 1 inch long; Remove from packaging centimeter ruler Hard or flexible; Cartoon characters are acceptable; No advertisements please. 6 unsharpened pencils No advertisements, religious, patriotic, military, or camouflage symbols, please; Cartoon characters are acceptable. 1 2-inch or larger-size eraser No advertisements, religious, patriotic, military, or camouflage symbols, please; Cartoon characters are acceptable count box of crayons Only 24-count boxes, please. 1 14x16 inch cloth bag Homemade or purchased bags are both acceptable; Heavy-duty fabric only, such as denim, corduroy, drapery fabric, etc.; No advertisements, religious, patriotic, military, or camouflage symbols, please; Closures are optional but must be buttons, snaps, or Velcro sewn in middle of opening, if used. Important Notes All items must be new. All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations. Since strict rules often govern product entry into international countries, it is important that kits contain only the requested items, nothing more.

8 Portraits of the Messiah April 3- May 8 They say a picture is worth a thousand words. If you were to paint a picture of Jesus, what would it look like? More importantly, how would you imagine him to be? During Portraits of the Messiah, Rev. White will delve deeply into the nature of the Jesus of faith and history so that you can better answer for yourself the question, Who is He? April 3 The Quest of the Historical Jesus - Scripture: Luke 1: Was He Really Human? - Scripture: Matthew 9: What Was His Message? - Scriptures: Mark 1:14-15; Luke 17: What Does The Cross Mean? - Scripture: Romans 5:6-8 May 1 Jesus the Revolutionary - Scriptures: Mark 1:21-28, Romans 12:1-2 8 Who Do You Say That He Is? - Scripture: Matthew 16:13-17 The Father, Son, and the Who? May 15-June 12, 2016 When the subject of the Holy Spirit is brought up, people often react quite differently from one another. There are the detractors. Some dismiss the Spirit as the expression of sub-conscious desires, or mere emotion. There are the enthusiasts, who seem to be willing to throw all caution to the wind at the leading of the Holy Spirit. Whether one is a detractor or an enthusiast, the truth is that many people know about God, but never experience His presence. In this sermon series, you ll be encouraged to experience God as well as know him. May 15 Pentecost Sunday The Miracle Scripture: Acts 2:1-4, Visible Sign Scripture: John 16: Knowing God Scripture: Acts 19:1-7 June 5 Who Is That? Scripture: John 16: God with Us Scripture: John 14: Series Break: Guest Preacher (White at Annual Conference) 26 Our Teacher Scripture: John 14:26

9 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday FUN FACTS ABOUT APRIL: April 1st if April Fools Day (don t forget to play a trick on someone) April 15th is Titanic Remembrance Day April 22nd is Earth Day April 27 is Babe Ruth Day 1 7:00-10:00pm Apple Valley Square Dance - Fellowship Hall :30am Worship Service 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service 12:00pm Youth Paintball - Skyline Paintball 10:00am Discovery Preschool Chapel 6:30pm Church Council Meeting - Parlor 7:00pm The Valley Voices - Fellowship Hall 10:00am Discovery Preschool Chapel 7:00pm Pastor Appreciation Planning Meeting- Parlor NO CHOIR PRACTICE REV. WHITE AT CFA ALL DAY 7:00pm Prayer Shawl Ministry - Parlor :30am Worship Service 9:45am Sunday School 9:45am Newcomers Class 11:00am Worship Service 7:00pm Trustee Meeting - Parlor 7:00pm The Valley Voices - Fellowship Hall 6:30pm Choir Practice 10:00am Companions in Christ Class - Parlor 7:00pm Prayer Shawl Ministry - Parlor 7:00-10:00pm Apple Valley Square Dance - Fellowship Hall APR Rented All Day by Shirley Place 11:00am Youth TOP Mission :30am Worship Service 9:45am Sunday School 9:45am Newcomers Class 7:00pm The Valley Voices - Fellowship Hall 7:00pm Worship Committee Meeting - Parlor 6:30pm Choir Practice 7:00pm Prayer Shawl Ministry - Parlor 11:00am Worship Service 4:30pm Youth Meeting :30am Worship Service 9:45am Sunday School 7:00pm The Valley Voices - Fellowship Hall 7:00pm Finance Meeting - Chapel 6:30pm Choir Practice 7:00pm Prayer Shawl Ministry - Parlor 9:45am Blood Pressure Clinic 11:00am Worship Service 4:30pm Youth Meeting

10 First united Methodist church Downtown Campus 308 North Braddock Street Winchester, VA APR Campus Non-Profit Org U. S. POSTAGE P A I D Permit No. 136 Winchester, VA Located on Apple Pie Ridge Road near the elementary school Phone: Fax: fumcoffice@fumcwinchester.org First United Methodist Church 308 North Braddock Street Winchester, VA Making disciples of Jesus Christ OUR STAFF Rev. William M. White Lead Pastor Sarah Messick Office Manager Allyson Allison Preschool Director Melody Harmon Director of Music Peter Uhlir Organist & Accompanist Office Hours The hours of operation for the office are 9:00am to 4:00pm, Monday- Thursday. If you have any questions, concerns, or requests you may them to fumcoffice@fumcwinchester.org or call the Office Manager at OUR LEADERSHIP Mary Meredith Children s Ministry JoEllen Smith PPRC Chair Stacey Stickley Lay Leader Lew Costello Finance Chair Greg Bowman Trustee Chair Connie Stultz Worship Committee Chair Cheryl Dyksen Church Council Chair Becky Starliper Treasurer