First. in this issue. Greetings from David. Vol 43...Issue 14...November Dear Fellow Ministers,

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1 First Vol 43...Issue 14...November Greetings from David Dear Fellow Ministers, The mission of First United Methodist Church: To see Christ in every person we encounter and demonstrate to them the love of God and the teachings of Jesus. I ve been saying it more and more, God is up to something here! I truly believe that. God is moving in new and exciting ways among us! I am excited to get to see where God takes us next. We have over 160 new members in the last three years; worship attendance is up; we have fullyfunded Family Life Center, Theatre, and Youth Center (to be named after Becky Greene) renovations; we have so many in our Young Adult Sunday School Class that we had to move rooms; and the list could go on. We are currently in official conversation with Bessemer City UMC to see what a partnership might look like as we try to share our strengths and learn from others (Conversation Team is Giles Beal, Joel Long, Lisa Jurs, Juta Carpenter, and myself). We are planning new small groups for God is up to something, indeed! I hope you will make it a priority to worship with us in November and see what God is doing among us. Our worship schedule is always 8:45 and 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary and 9 a.m. in the Theatre. Our themes will be: November 1 All Saints Day. Ruth 1:1-18 November 8 New Member Sunday. Mark 12:38-44 November 15 Mark 13:1-8 (Charge Conference at Warlick School at 4:30 p.m.) November 22 Christ the King Sunday. John 18:33-37 November 29 First Sunday of Advent. Luke 21:25-36 (Sermon Series: The REAL Gifts of Christmas) Please invite someone to worship with you. Thank you for the partnership we share in ministry! I covet your prayers as we work together to keep God s momentum strong among us. I look forward to being in mission and ministry with you this month! In Christ s Service, David in this issue TAKE NOTE WAYS TO CONNECT CALENDAR EVENTS AND NEWS BASKETBALL

2 Take Note Hospitalized: Nelli Kate and Sadie Brett Conner-CaroMont. Sympathy to: Don Rourk and family on the death of his father. Erika Lowery and family on the death of her grandfather. Sally Barnett and family on the death of her grandfather. Mark, Hope and Holly McIntosh and family on the death of their mother and grandmother. Joy to: Brett and Katie Gray Conner on the birth of Nelli Kate and Sadie Brett, who were born October 21, Michael and Jennifer Cannon on the birth of Scott Enzo, who was born October 21, Big brothers are Michael and Lane and big sister is Suzy. Mollie and Lance Jimison on the birth of Liam Ritch, who was born October 2, Big brother is Lucas. Grandmother is Linda McConnell and great-grandmother is Bobbie Rowland. Just the numbers: Sunday Attendance October 4: 477 October 11: The Main Event October 18: 452 October 25: 524 Minister on Call Schedule: (call or text) October 30-November 1: Jim Westmoreland November 6-8: Ashley Anne Lloyd November 13-15: David Christy November 20-22: Jim Westmoreland November 27-29: Ashley Anne Lloyd Reservations are requested for everyone and accepted until 5 p.m. on the Monday prior to the meal via The website, First Connection card, or by calling the office. Cancellations are appreciated. Wednesday Menus November 4 November 11 November 18 November 25 No Soup Wednesday Italian Dinner Pork Chop Dinner and Sandwich Evening Meal. Dinner Happy Thanksgiving! Please note: Salad Bar is available at each dinner.

3 CONNECT... UMW News Start the Count down-a most important day is almost here!!! The UNITED METHODIST WOMEN S FROZEN FOOD AND BAKE SALE: Saturday, November 14, 9 11 a.m. Bring your coolers, shop early, get your freezers stocked with delicious casseroles and baked goodies for the upcoming holidays. All funds raised will support missions locally and globally. Also, on this morning there will be another opportunity to support local missions by enjoying the United Methodist Men s annual Pancake Breakfast. Doors open at 9 a.m. This will be a bonus for your getting up early...hot breakfast of pancakes, orange, juice, coffee. THEN, shop the UMW Bake/Frozen sale...or shop the UMW Bake Sale and then enjoy the UMM Pancake Breakfast. Friendship Connections-Where Friends Connect and Reconnect Thursday, November 19, 11 a.m., Family Life Center Let s reflect on our Home of the Free, Because of the Brave! Bring a friend with you. Journey to Bethlehem Learn about the journey to Bethlehem as this group continues to meet once a week in order to walk 95 miles by Christmas Eve. Pam Christy leads us Thursdays, November 5, November 12 and November 19. We meet in the FLC at 7 p.m. and would love for you to join the trip! News From 162 East When the idea of 162 East began and I was asked to be on the planning committee for this contemporary service. I have to admit I was behind the door when it came to knowledge about the whole contemporary thing. All I knew is that I was playing guitar for a praise band and I was really glad for that opportunity. I was never able to sing solos or play guitar in front of people without trembling. Well, with lots of prayer, God helped me to be confident so I could move onto other challenges. One of them is stage design. I knew that I could decorate my house, but a stage, I was not quite sure about that. But with research, (Pinterest mostly) and lots of help later, I think our stage designs have turned out pretty well. In our plans for the Christmas design, we are in need of a lot of artificial trees. So if by chance you are planning to replace yours this year, 162 East would appreciate any trees that could be recycled into our design (with or without working lights). Please contact or Aaron Prillaman if you have a tree to donate to us. Blessings, Michele Graham

4 CONNECT CONT... Coats/Sweatpants/Shorts For Our Partner Schools The cooler temperatures remind us to bring new or gently used coats to the FLC coat closet during the month of October. This enables us to give warm coats to our partner schools. Please make sure the coat is something your child or grandchild would wear. We need sizes to fit Kindergarten children thru Adult extra large for our middle school students. Please put coats in the FLC coat closet. We ve received a special request from Pleasant Ridge Elementary School, who is in need of size XS, S, and M elastic waist shorts and sweat pants for boys and girls. Please bring P.R.E.S. donations to the Hospitality Room. We are blessed to be a blessing to others. Seeking Donations for Our Annual Thanksgiving Meals for our partner schools' families. A pre-cooked meal will be gifted to these families for the holiday. You may buy the cooked meal of turkey, dressing, gravy, bread and a pie for a donation of $65. Please mark your check "Thanksgiving Meal" and bring to the Business Office, pay online, or place in the offering plate. Donations of green beans, rice, yams and collard greens are also needed. 1st and 10 November 2, 9 and 16, 8 p.m., YC. Men s devotion and Monday Night Football with shared leadership. Fifth Sunday Offering November is a 5 th Sunday month. Several of us in the church, to help make our almost $1.7 million budget for 2015 made a commitment to give an extra mile offering of $60 each 5 th Sunday ($240 for the year). This will be the last 5 th Sunday of the year. We are grateful for those gifts. What a blessing it is to give beyond ourselves! Anyone can pick up an extra mile offering envelope and share that gift with the church in any amount. FUMC tries very hard to be good stewards of the gifts people give to our church. We seek to honor God with the money that is received and every year we thank God for the blessings bestowed on us as a church. Giving our money is a very important aspect of our collective discipleship. We do not give because the church needs it. We give because God has gifted us with His Son, Jesus Christ and all we can do is share the gifts we have. We give out of our need to give. Thank you to everyone for sharing your precious gifts with this church in the name of Jesus Christ! Save the Date! FUMC Family Camp Weekend at Camp Tekoa Friday, April 22 Sunday, April 24, 2016 Cost will be $60 per person and includes lodging, food prepared by Chef Bruce, and all recreational activities! More details to follow.

5 Harvest Halls, trick-or-treating for our kids, was a huge success! A BIG Thank You to everyone who donated candy and volunteered to pass out candy! M&M s, F.A.I.T.H. and F.I.S.H. kids will participate in Wednesday evening activities, 6:45-7:15 p.m. at the church, throughout the month of November. -Children s Ministry Kids FUN night will be Saturday, December 5, 2015, 4:30-7:30 p.m. in the Family Life Center. This will be a special evening for kids to hang out while their parents enjoy a date night. Kids will have fun making Christmas ornaments, watching a movie, playing games, and enjoying dinner. Kids must RSVP to this special event. Please or call Jennifer by Sunday, November 29 to save your spot, jennifer@fumcgastonia.org or x223. Wednesday, December 2, 2015: Advent Festival-A interactive family dinner experience in the Family Life Center Gym, 5:45-7 p.m. We hope you can join us for a delicious dinner, Christmas Carols, and a fun evening celebrating the Advent season. Parents, please check out our Facebook page, First UMC Gastonia s Children s Ministry Department, for weekly information and updates. Sydney loved trick or treating at Harvest Halls! Austell twins. Cannon Family.

6 Invitation To Artists In Our Church -Music and Worship Arts Ministry Throughout 2016 the Worship Committee would like to sponsor and encourage more visual art and decorations for our worship [both in the Sanctuary and 162 East/Theatre]. We believe it will enhance the themes and messages of our services. If you have interest and abilities in painting, fabrics, ceramics, photography/video, or other decorative arts, please contact Rev. Saxon Scarborough, Minister of Music at or x233. We will be organizing over the next several weeks. *Chancel/Contemporary Choirs and Chancel Bells enjoyed retreats in October. *FUMC at Cornerstone Christian Center Worship: Thursday, November 5, Chancel Choir; Thursday, November 19, Contemporary Choir. *Chancel Bells will participate in the Mid-Carolinas Bell Festival at Sardis Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, Saturday, November 14. *Gaston String Orchestra concert, FUMC Sanctuary, Saturday, November 21, 3:30 p.m. Free admission. *First Brass to Charlotte, Sunday, November 22, 10 a.m. *The Gift of God With Us presented by Chancel/Contemporary Choirs & Chancel Bells Sunday, December 13, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.

7 National Memory Screening Event Wednesday, November 4, 2015, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., First Presbyterian Church. A memory screening is a simple and safe evaluation tool that checks memory and other thinking skills. It can indicate whether an additional check up by a qualified healthcare professional is needed. Register by calling Parish Nurse Ministry Flu Shot Clinics Wednesday, November 4, 2015, 4:30-6:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church. Wednesday, November 11, :30-6:30 p.m., FUMC. Silver and Gold Occasions: A Holiday Grief Seminar Saturday, November 7, 2015, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church. This event is sponsored by Gaston Hospice, and will help families cope with the holidays after the death of a loved one. You are encouraged to attend the seminar together as a family, and bring any concerns you have about the upcoming holidays. You MUST be registered to attend by calling Veteran s Benefit Seminar Wednesday, November 11, 2015, 12 p.m. First Presbyterian Church- Fellowship Hall. Lunch $5, free program. RSVP:

8 Youth Ministry Our new Youth Center was dedicated Sunday, October 25, It was great to see so many youth and former youth in attendance. It is truly a blessing to have this wonderful space for our youth to grow in Christ! Congratulations to Becky Greene, as we look forward to the official naming. Youth Happenings! Sunday School-Wesley Youth Center 9:45 a.m. Praise Music and Gathering 10:05 a.m. Morning Glow 10:10 a.m. Sunday School: Confirmation 6 th Grade, 7 th & 8 th Grades, 9 th 12 th Grades Morning Glow Schedule for November November 1-Alexis, Eryn and Emily G. November 8-Tripp November 15- Emily A., Ava, Jillien and Ellise November 22-Ashlen, Brayden and Nick November 29-Griffin, Joe and William Fai Sr. Hi Prayer Breakfast November 3 South New Hope Rd., 7 a.m. Wednesday Night Bible Study November 4, 11, 18 and 25 Sr. Hi s Meet at Tequila s 6:15 7:30 p.m. Mid Hi s Meet outside Wesley Youth Center at 6 p.m. to Walk to Tequila s UMYF Sunday Evenings 6:15 7:30 p.m. November 1: Sr. Hi Program Rioting Son Mid Hi Program Change Starts with Me November 8: Sr. Hi Program The Good Life Mid Hi Program Fam Fest November 15 Sr. Hi Program Bonfire at the Buckner s Mid Hi Program Movie, Munchies and Message November 22 Sr. Hi and Mid Hi Program together Thanksgiving with 1 st Pres, Time TBA November 29 No UMYF Thanksgiving

9 The Senior Hi Youth spent October 2 4, 2015 at Valle Crucis. The weekend theme was The Places You Will Go! They played games, went to downtown Boone and talked about the doors God is currently opening for them, as well as the ones he has prepared for them in the future. 11th Grade 12th Grade 10th Grade The Mid Hi Youth had an exciting time at Valle Crucis this year despite the rain. Their theme was Now and Later. It was all about choices they make today and in the future. The rain did not prevent them from playing soccer and visiting the Mast General Store. 9th Grade 8th Grade 6th Grade 7th Grade

10 Youth Ministry Continued... Listed below are items that we would like to have for our new Youth Center. Thank you for your support through your prayers and gifts. Donations toward L-Shaped couch ($2,200, couch-has been ordered) Coffee Table (modern, large in size to go with new L-shaped brown leather couch $500) Keurig Coffee Maker and supplies ($100) Café Pub Tables ($100 each-have been ordered) Window Treatments for Sr. Hi Sunday School rooms ($1,000) Map for stage area ($200) Air Hockey table ($1,300) 8 Universal phone chargers ($15 each) Foosball table ($800) Pillows for Theater ($20 each) Misc Wall Hangings ($15 each) DVD Player ($50) Rolling TV Cart ($100) Acrylic podium ($400) 3 iphone docking station for Sunday School rooms ($50) Labor for painting bar stools Name: Donation toward: Amount:

11 To print this calendar, select print and choose page 11.

12 To print this calendar, select print and choose page 12. Mark the Date on Your December Calendar!!! Wednesday, December 2, 2015: Advent Festival- An interactive family dinner experience in the Family Life Center Gym, 5:45-7 p.m. We hope you can join us for a delicious dinner, Christmas Carols, and a fun evening celebrating the Advent season.

13 -reconnect Service Our theme for 2016 is going to be that we are BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING! We are going to be talking about that with each of our vows: Prayers, Presence, Gifts, Service, and Witness. Today, I want to share with you about our WITNESS. One of the things we all do when we are excited is to share that excitement with others. This "fifth vow" of membership was placed in at the 2008 General Conference, and appropriately so. If we have Good News and don't share it with others, we are missing out on the whole concept of sharing our blessing with others. So, let's consider what it means to be a "Witness". At the most base level, it simply means saying what you have seen. A lot of Christians are turned off by this concept because they think it means we need to beat people over the head with Bibles or ask them three magic questions that will lead someone to faith. That is not true. All we do is share what we have seen. How have you seen God at work? Tell someone! I am personally a big fan of "relational evangelism" which means that as we get to know people, we find ways to share our faith. God will open those doors. Although I don't think I am, someone in the community asked me recently, "Why are you always so positive?" A great door was opened for me to share about how, for me, my faith means that I can be positive even in the face of adversity! The great thing was that person decided to give church another try, but made it clear he wasn't coming to our church because he grew up in another denomination. Who cares?! That is great that he is willing to enter into relationship with God through a church. I hope that we can help each other learn that we don't have to "fear" being a witness for Christ because we aren't talking about things we don't know, only the things we do. And, when we do get questions that we don't know the answer to, all we have to do is say, "I don't know!" My favorite expression that you may have heard me say is that I don't know how a black and white cow eats green grass and makes white milk - but I know I love milk! Nor do I understand how God can love me when I am such a sinner, but I know I love God and I accept His love for me. Therefore, I just want to tell others about it. The "Faith Sharing New Testament" that we give out to folks responds to the question, "What does it mean to share Christian faith with others?" in this way: Sharing Christian faith means spreading the good news of the kingdom of God by word, deed, and sign through the power of the Holy Spirit, and then waiting and watching in respectful humility and working in expectant hope. May it be so! We ALL, each one of us, are blessed by God in order to be a blessing for God! Thank you for looking for ways to witness to your love of Jesus Christ in your life; and for taking the vows of membership seriously. David

14 Events and News... Desserts and Design with local artist Anastasia Boswell. Have you been itching for a way to express some of that built up creativity, but not sure where to look? Look no further than Desserts and Design! Anastasia will help you spark your imagination. The November project will be a prayer bowl. Cost is $15 and includes your supplies and a wonderful dessert. Classes are open to all with an RSVP to, or carol@fumcgastonia.org Tuesday, November 3, 6 p.m., FUMC. Save the Dates for Picture Days! Sunday, November 29 in the Hospitality Room following each worship service. Wednesday, December 2 following the Advent Festival (7:30 p.m.) Sunday, December 6 in the Hospitality Room following each worship service. Take an opportunity to update your photo/ information for our in house Pictorial Directory. You may also submit a photo via to carol@fumcgastonia.org. You Can Be Confident!! New Member Sunday Of course people can join the church any Sunday that they prefer. We do try to pick one Sunday approximately every six weeks and designate it as new member Sunday so that folks know they can join on that day. This month, we will have a New Member Sunday on November 8. If you know someone who may be interested in joining, or if you are interested, please see one of the ministers so that they can share information with you about what it means to join the church. Fair Trade on Main (FTOM) has been a success! Thank you for your support. The store will be open before and after the 11 a.m. service on the following Sundays: November 1 November 15 November 29 December 13 December 20 FTOM will also be at the Mission Mall. We look forward to seeing you! Newsletter articles must be submitted via by 9 a.m. on the last Wednesday of the month prior to publication for the following month. your submission to Amanda, amanda@fumcgastonia.org. Please note that articles are at the Editor s discretion due to limited space, run time, etc. Thank you for your cooperation.

15 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Basketball Name Birth Date Age Grade Parents Name Address: Main Phone: Other Pone Emergency Number Address Jersey Size (Circle One) YXS YS YM YL AS AM AL AXL THIS APPLICATION IS FOR (CHECK ONE) 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, Church Affiliation (check one): FUMC Other Church Looking for a church home PLEASE INCLUDE A COPY OF YOUR CHILD S BIRTH CERTIFICATE IF HE/SHE HAS NOT PREVIOUSLY PARTICIPATED IN A SPORT AT FUMC. *Practices begin in December and games begin in January. Registration Fee: $50 for one child $45 each for multiple children Deadline to Sign Up: Wednesday, November 25, 2015 Photo Permission - FUMC may use my child s picture and/or video clips (without name) in church publications (ex. Newsletter, website) Yes No Parent Signature Parents: Coaches are needed (must be Safe Sanctuary Certified). Please indicate if you will help Thank you.

16 STAY CONNECTED... Phone: Web: Give First United Methodist Church PO Box 218 Gastonia, North Carolina Published monthly at 190 E. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia, NC (USPS ). Periodicals postage paid at Gastonia, NC. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Newsletter of First United Methodist Church, PO Box 218 Gastonia, NC First United Methodist Church PO Box 218 Gastonia, NC Program Staff David Christy, Senior Minister Saxon Scarborough, Minister of Music Jennifer Cabaniss, Director of Children s Ministries Susan Lisle, Music Associate Larry Brannock, Interim Business Manager Ashley Anne Lloyd, Associate Minister Rebecca Greene, Director of Spiritual Formation Tripp Hord, Director of Student Ministries/FLC Timothy Scruggs, Organist Bruce Tindall, Director of Food Services James Westmoreland, Minister of Congregational Care Kristi McClellan, Director of Weekday Preschool Aaron Prillaman, 162 East Worship Leader Lisa Marisiddaiah, Parish Nurse Eddie Ingram, Pastoral Psychotherapist: , x411