Web site: Phone: (410)

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1 Web site: Phone: (410) From the Pastor By Rev. Karen Bunnell, Senior Pastor Dear Friends, The year 2012 has started out with a bang! We ve had a lot of good things happening, not the least of which was over a hundred women drawing closer to God at the 2nd Annual Women s Retreat! And February promises to be equally exciting with the Joy of Faith weekend, and other events taking place. I want to invite you to reach out to people in your life friends, neighbors, co-workers and invite them to take part in our Joy of Faith weekend. Taylor Mason is a gifted Christian comedian and ventriloquist who has toured with the Gaithers, and the reviews of his performances are outstanding. We re having the Saturday events at Elkton High School. This is a perfect opportunity to invite someone to have a faith experience in a non-threatening way. Some people who would never come to a program at church would come to a program in a school. So think about who in your life needs a little faith lift and step out in faith and invite them to come with you. You could be a part of changing their life through the saving love of Jesus Christ. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. Psalm 100:5 February 2012 What s inside... Anniversaries/Birthdays Baptisms...5 Calendar...11 Church News...6 Cryptogram Solution...3 Education and Events...3 Missions/Outreach...2 Music Ministries...6 Word Search Solutions...5 Youth Group What s happening... 4th Annual Men s Gathering Due Date February 1 st...6 Picture Days February 2 nd,3 rd,4 th & 9 th,10 th,11 th...5 Joy of Faith Weekend February 4 th & 5 th...6 Compassion Children March 11 th...3 Young Adult Meeting February 11 th...4 Fair Trade Coffee February 12 th...2 Blood Pressure February 12 th...5 Man Food, Man Talk February 16 th...6 Classic Christians Meeting February 17 th...6 Sunday School Bowling February 19 th...4 Cancer Resource Center March...3

2 MISSIONS OUTREACH He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy. Pr o v e r b s 14:21 UMW Christmas Missions Programs Submitted by Nancy S. Stubbs, UMW Secretary Thank you so much to each EUMC Cookie Baker!! Our 2011 Cookie Walk was the most successful ever!! We could not have done it without each one of you. The Cecil Whig gave us great coverage again, and Judy Pugh and Pastor Karen encouraged our bakers with bulletin announcements and newsletter articles. Your support helps us provide funds for our UMW mission work throughout the year which includes our $1,000 annual donation to our Building Fund. We also thank you for your support for our Christmas Missions programs: Operation Christmas Child - we delivered 49 shoeboxes this year and the Mitten Tree which provides warm hats, gloves, and scarves through the Help Center. Help the Help Center On the 1 st Sunday of each month, the Missions Committee will be collecting non-perishable food items for the Help Center. Please bring donations to the welcome center area on February 5 th! Another Season at the Winter Rotating Homeless Shelter Terri Lokey Thank you, Lord, for warm beds and a hot meal and the hands that prepared it. This was the simple prayer given the other night by a woman staying in the church-based rotating shelter. On January 16th, we completed our second week of hosting the rotating homeless shelter for the season at First Assembly of God. Some of the evenings we housed up to 34 people, providing great meals and friendly companionship. I am so thankful that EUMC has members who have opened their hearts to this ministry. I would especially like to thank Susan Starrett and Faye Camors for their help with the supervision of the shelter. In addition, thanks to Ed and Cheryl McKeown and Carol Olsen for sharing their singing talents, Katie Valetutti for bringing her brownie troop to play bingo, the Spragues for the endless supply of paper products and their use of a truck. Also, thanks to the many, many cooks and volunteers who donated, prepared and served meals and especially those who spent hours with the people at the shelter. They were so very appreciative of your time, talents, and love. By lending a hand, you have showed the homeless the face of God. If you didn t get enough of the shelter and still want to volunteer, please call Meeting Ground at to offer your help. The rotating shelter will run through the end of March and some smaller churches may be asking for help with meals or volunteers. 2 Please Support This Year s Mission Projects Bob Gilmore, Missions Committee Chairman There are many opportunities for you to participate in on-going missions projects throughout the year. Every mission project that our church is involved in includes construction activities, community outreach and donating your time right here in our own church. We encourage you to participate in the following missions projects: Food Collection - Harvest Food Festival Supporting Your Community - Rotating Homeless Shelter International Connection - Compassion International Construction - Christmas In April & Kentucky Missions Trip Local Connection - Community Yard Sale & Elkton Community Kitchen Fair Trade Coffee - Coffee is sold on the second Sunday of the month by the Missions Committe. This project aims to help developing countries make better trading conditions to sustain their business. The Fair Trade idea promotes the local producers in underdeveloped areas. Fair Trade Coffee will be available for purchase after each worship service on the second Sunday of each month: February 12 th

3 EDUCATION AND EVENTS Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not turn from it. Pr o v e r b s 22:6 Happening in our Community Submitted by Carol Zervas, R.N. Union Hospital and their Cancer Center are developing a Cancer Resource Center next to the Cancer Center department. Joe and Judy Tanner and I are volunteering our time to help get this program up and running for an opening date sometime in March The American Cancer Society tells us In the fight against cancer, getting emotional support and the right information can be as important as medical care. As a Cancer Resource Center volunteer, you will be there to offer our community a listening ear and words of encouragement, and you will be trained to be able to link patients to the most up-to-date cancer information available and the many resources of the American Cancer Society. The Resource Center will be open 8-4 weekdays. We are actively seeking volunteers, and the American Cancer Society will be training us. We will be under the guidance of the American Cancer Society as long as we need them to get this service up and running. This is a much needed venue for our community, and we are very excited concerning the opportunities to provide this service. If you are interested, please contact me at conryone@verizon.net or and I ll get back to you. Letter Writing Help for Compassion Children Terri Lokey At last count, there are over 30 children who are sponsored through Compassion International by members of our church. If you are one of these sponsors and want to steal or share ideas for letter writing to your child, please attend an informal get-together on Sunday, March 11th at 12:15pm in Weldin Hall. Over pizza and salad, we will share ideas of topics on which to write and creative ways to send fun letters to our little friends in other countries. If you aren t a Compassion sponsor, but want to learn more about this ministry, come to the meeting also and hear first hand from other sponsors. Please sign up for the luncheon so we can order enough pizza! If you want more information, contact Terri Lokey. Solution to Cryptogram (from back page) I can do all things through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4: 13 With Deepest Sympathy Brian Rhoades Marjorie Simmons GUESS WHO? This little girl grew into a woman with many talents, cake decorator, gourmet chef, and an excellent horsewoman. (answer on page 6) Births Jacob Edwards, son of Matthew and Julie Noah John Noll, son of Mike and Jen 3

4 YOUTH GROUP YOUNG ADULTS Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Ps a l m 25:5 4 Sunday School News Shannon Laramore, Director of Children and Educational Ministries Do you like to bowl? Then, come to the Elk Lanes on Sunday, February 19th at 1:00 p.m. The cost is $4.00 per game and shoe rental is FREE! There will be a sign-up on the Sunday School bulletin board in the hospitality area. Spaces filled up quick last year, so make sure you sign up fast! Valentine s Dinner for Young Adults We will host our Valentine s Dinner on Feb. 10th at 6:30 p.m. Dinner and a babysitter will be provided for those who have young children. There will also be activities to keep the children busy so you can spend time with your friends. Please RSVP with a text or questions to or call the church so that we know how much food to prepare and how many sitters we will need. Hope to see you there. D.O.C. - Youth Ministries Sandy Wherry, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries The youth group with 17 members in attendance had a marvelous weekend at the 25th Youth Rally. Reggie Dabbs spoke a tremendous message to the students the entire weekend. A group called Leeland led worship and they were just as powerful. Brooke Pinder sums it all up for us: It has been nothing but a pleasure to work with the EUMC youth group throughout the year, and our time at the Ocean City youth rally could not have captured the character of our ministry any better. This weekend was a chance for our youth to grow and be challenged in a way that was touching not only to watch but to be an intimate part of. The struggles that face this young generation today are hardly fathomable; our youth rally gave them a chance to escape the troubles and temptations of the world even just for a weekend and let us fellowship and grow together in Christ. These students have enriched my life in ways I hardly think they could begin to imagine, and my prayer for them is that they are continuing to be touched by us as we help them in their journey to be more like Christ. We thank you, the church, for allowing us to attend the Rally and have such a wonderful experience. I thank the volunteers who participated as well: John and Cindy Fetterolf (our chief cooks and bottle washers), Veronica Marshall, Jeanette Perkins, Brooke Pinder, and Carlos Reyes, and our young adult volunteers: Andrew Fetterolf, Amanda Fetterolf, Katie Hastings and Kristi Hastings. This group of young people were well behaved, cleaned up after themselves and had a spiritual high that I hope lasts for a long time! We are looking forward to a time of continued spiritual growth and spreading the WORD! When you see one of the teens, please ask them about their weekend. Young Adult News The young adult group met at the Wherry s for a brunch on Jan.14th and, again, for bowling on January 27th. Our next meeting will be at the Pinder residence (698 W. Pulaski Hwy., Elkton) on February 11th at 11 a.m. for brunch. We welcome everyone from ages 18 to 30. I leave you with a thought from Carlos Reyes: Human beings seem to be nonconformists by nature. We probably don t like the place we are in right now and desire what others may have instead of enjoying who we currently are. But, during our Young Adult Meeting, held last Saturday, we realized that being nonconformists has its advantages. In what place do we have our faith? And where do you want your faith to be? Even though our faith could be placed in a strong, solid, and mature site, passionate Christians should live it 24/7. We should desire to trust Him more and love Him with unlimited passion. We all want more of His compassion, more of His power, more of His Grace, more, more, and more of Him. Actually, there are some issues that may interfere in that growing relationship with God, and they put us away from His love. What are those issues that stop us from talking to Him and following His voice? Insecurity? No matter what, by the end of the day, Jesus tells you He wants you to get closer every moment. Feeling His presence breaks our heart down and allows us to be nonconformists. Under God s plan, do not be conformists. Ask Him for more and allow Him to provide through His will. In the name of Jesus. Amen. Please join us! We would love to have you. We hope to meet, talk, discuss, eat and fellowship together at least twice a month.

5 CHURCH NEWS Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do. And whatever else you do, get good judgment. Pr o v e r b s 4:7 Finance Bill Ferringer, Chairman Finance As your new chairman of the Finance Committee it is always nice to start off with good news. The month of December was another good month. We had a surplus of $12,384 for the month which brought our deficit for the year down to $29,802. The final three months of 2011, we as a congregation were able to reduce the deficit by $28,000. That is remarkable. This is a good spring board to get 2012 off to a good start knowing that your pledges are up over The early results for January are very encouraging. Thanks in advance to all of you as we make 2012 a great year in the life of our church. Financial Report December 2011 December YTD (2011) Income $ 44,780 $416,626 Expenses $32,396 $446,428 Balance /(Deficit) 12,384 (- $29,802) Baptisms If you would like to schedule a baptism, please Rev. Bunnell at eumc@comcast.net or call the church office at Pictorial Directory Still Time to Sign Up!! By The Communications Committee Olan Mills will be at EUMC on Feb. 2, 3 and 4 and, again, on Feb. 9, 10 and 11, to take pictures for the new church directory. There are still some times left so, if you haven t signed up, please call the church office to schedule your appointment time. The office number is or Kay at eumcadmin@comcast.net. The picture for the directory is free. The directory is a great way to learn the names and faces of your fellow parishioners! Interested in Joining Elkton UMC? If you are, sign up to participate in the next New Member Orientation Class which will take place on Sunday, February 12th at 12:15 p.m. in Weldin Hall. The two-hour class includes a light lunch, an introduction to United Methodism, and to Elkton UMC in particular, and discussion around what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, and a member of our church. Childcare will be provided if needed. To register for the class, please eumc@ comcast.net or call the church office at Blood Pressure Screenings on February 12 th Available on the 2 nd Sunday of each month in the parish nurse office! WORD SEARCH SOLUTION (from back page) 5

6 6 MUSIC AND WORSHIP May the LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life... Ps a l m 128:5 Music Ministries By Sharon Williams, Coordinator of Music Ministries Our hymn choir, that sings for the 8:30 a.m. service the first Sunday of every month, is in need of a few more singers. We rehearse before the service (around 8:10 a.m.) in the choir room. Please consider joining us! The children s choir, kindergarten - grade 5, rehearses every Sunday from 9:15-9:45 a.m. in room one. Not only are they singing, but they are learning to play hand chimes as well. Their director, Joanna Melvin, would love to have more children join this group. The chancel choir had a very busy time preparing for Christmas, and now Lent and Easter are just around the corner. Information will be forthcoming on joining the chancel choir for the Lenten Cantata. I want to let you know that I am still receiving compliments on the fantastic job all our musicians did on Christmas Eve. Thank you, once again, for your hard work and dedication! Lent Begins on February 22nd - The holy and solemn season of Lent starts on Wednesday, February 22nd, which is Ash Wednesday. This penitential and contemplative season invites us to walk with Jesus on his journey to the cross. During Lent, our church will be offering many opportunities for us to grow stronger spiritually and to really think about what it means that Jesus died for us and for our salvation. There will be several classes offered, which you can read about in other places in this edition of the Beacon. We will mark the beginning of Lent with an Ash Wednesday worship service, which will include communion and the imposition of ashes. Lenten Studies for Adults Dr. Ivan Mehosky will be leading a 6 week Lenten Devotional from the Book of Common Prayer. This class will begin on February 26 in the Parlor at 9:45. Rev. Karen Bunnell will be hosting the Lenten Lunch and Learn group again. Class will begin on Wednesday, February 29 at 12:00 in Weldin Hall. The group will be studying Adam Hamilton s new book, Final Words. This book and DVD study, explores the final words of Jesus as seen and heard from the eyes and ears of those who stood near the cross. The group will be responsible for providing lunch. Sign-ups for both of the classes will be provided in the bulletins. Communion Date Shifted for February Guess Who Answer It s Janet Forney! Because the Joy of Faith weekend is happening the first weekend in February, we will not be having communion on the first Sunday of the month, as is our usual custom. We will, instead, have communion on the second Sunday, which is February 12th. Our Next Praise Service Features Our Youth - Come and worship with us at the next monthly Praise Service, which will take place on Sunday, February 12th at 5:30 p.m. in our sanctuary. Members of our youth group will lead the service (with the able assistance of our wonderful praise band!). The youth will share with us the powerful impact that the recent Peninsula-Delaware Conference Youth Rally had on them. Come and hear their stories, and share their enthusiasm! Scouting to Be Celebrated on Boy Scout Sunday - Sunday, February 26th is Boy Scout Sunday at our church. On that day, members of Boy Scout Troop 443 and Cub Pack 443, will be with us to help us celebrate scouting and our relationship with their groups as their chartered organization. We are blessed to have both of these groups associated with our church, as they are both active and thriving, and provide a wonderful, challenging program for boys and young men. Scouts will act as greeters, ushers, and Gospel readers that day. In addition to that, they will be offering their annual Pancake Breakfast all morning, so make plans now to have breakfast at the church that morning!

7 FELLOWSHIP AND STEWARDSHIP We are therefore Christ s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. II Corinthians 5:20 4th Annual Men s Gathering by: Mike Noll Our third payment date, January 15th, has passed. All registrations and money must be in by February 1st so that we can finalize our numbers with the hotel. Some money is still available for partial scholarships if needed. Please note that on your registration form, which can be dropped off at Karen s office or the church office. Come together for music, fun, relaxation, fellowship, good food, and worship. The gathering will be held at the Dunes Manor Hotel in Ocean City, Maryland on March 2, 3, and 4, The gathering is for Christian men of all denominations throughout the region so feel free to share this event with Christian men that you know. Man Food, Man Talk by Mike Noll Please note that our next session has been rescheduled for February 16, Usually our sessions take place on the first Thursday of the month. Arrive at 6:30pm for food, 7:00pm for discussion. There is always room for more men to eat and talk. Remember, you do not have to attend every month. There will not be a session in March due to the Annual Men s Gathering taking place the first weekend of the month. Let us know that you are attending this month by sending an to mikenoll@aol.com. We want to make sure we have enough food for you! There s Still Space on the Bus Trip to Boston There are still some spaces left on the Classic Christians Bus Trip to Boston, which will take place from Monday, May 14th through Thursday, May 17th. Cost is $499/person and is payable in three installments of $167, due January 15, February 15 and March 15. Sights to be seen are the Freedom Trail, Fanueil Hall, Fenway Park, the JFK Library, Concord, Lexington, Salem and much more. Flyers about the trip are on the table across from the Welcome Center. Questions? Call the church office. Classic Christians News This month, the Classic Christians (50+) will meet on Friday, 17th at 6:30 p.m. in Weldin Hall. The evening will begin with our usual potluck dinner, which is always wonderful, and then continues with a program offered by our very own resident author, Cathy Gohlke. Cathy s brand new book, Promise Me This, is being published this month, and according to those who have already had the chance to read it - it is fabulous! Come and hear about her experience writing it, and hear more about the book itself. Then, if you d like, you can buy a copy and get Cathy to autograph it! Sign up sheet for the evening is on the table across from the Welcome Center. Joy of Faith Weekend Submitted by Linda White, Evangelism/ Membership Committee The Joy of Faith weekend is this weekend - February 4 and 5th! Have you signed up for a prayer breakfast? Have you purchased your tickets for the dinner? Even if you re not planning to attend breakfast or enjoy dinner, please join us at Elkton High School at 7 p.m. on Saturday for Taylor Mason s performance. This show just can t be missed! Bring your family; bring your friends; Taylor s show is free to the community and we would love to fill all the seats in the high school auditorium. If you re not familiar with Taylor Mason, he is an extremely talented ventriloquist, musician and Christian comedian who entertains people of all ages and backgrounds. He gets involved with the audience on a personal level and people walk away feeling like they ve just made a friend. Taylor s mostly known for performing with the Gaithers, but has been traveling the country for the past 25 years sharing his talents with Christian audiences everywhere. see all of you there! Hope to 7

8 Catherine s 100th Birthday

9 Women s Retreat 9

10 February Birthdays One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and ask to seek him in his temple.: Psalm 27:4 (NIV) 2/2 Margaret Boulden 2/3 Peg Bradley 2/3 Hannah Lightcap 2/3 Travis Neff 2/3 James Watts 2/4 Michael Murray 2/4 Dawn Spencer 2/4 William Wright, Jr. 2/5 Edgar Pugh 2/5 Gerald (Rex) Sizemore 2/6 James Boulden, Jr. 2/6 Savannah Henry 2/7 Samuel Darron 2/7 David Webster 2/8 Robert Dalrymple 2/8 Cindy Healy 2/8 Charlotte Mehosky 2/9 Misty Clugston 2/10 Stanley Cebula 2/10 Steven Gilmore 2/11 Jack Starrett 2/12 Daniel Deemer 2/13 Brad Schreffler 2/14 Katie Hastings 2/14 Martha Nichols 2/15 Ruth Ingle 2/15 Constance Johns 2/15 Jacqueline McGuirk 2/15 Kevin White 2/16 Jackson Hill 2/16 Donna Horgan 2/16 William Moffitt 2/16 Eric Pressler 2/17 Lorlean Murray 2/18 Joanne Barrett 2/19 Alan Barnes 2/19 Edith Conrad 2/19 Chris DiSciullo 2/19 Jacob Spencer 2/20 Heather Blackiston 2/21 Janet Forney 2/22 Cossie Gibson 2/22 Robert Smith 2/23 Randall Ferrell 2/23 Bailey Pressler 2/23 Elizabeth Strunk 2/24 Lillian Armstrong 2/24 Brian Gilmore 2/24 Frank Knowles 2/24 William McKeown 2/24 Rachel Miller 2/24 Miles Neff 2/25 DonaldMcLewin 2/26 Deanna Copenhaver 2/26 Brett Pinder 2/27 Derek Cloud 2/27 Ashley Fetterolf 2/27 Helen Hanel-Gray 2/27 Michael Micklesavage 2/27 Donna Perkins 2/27 Melanie Reiss 2/28 Linda Truitt 2/28 Allyson Veasey 2/29 Jaymee Lee February Anniversaries Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genisis 2:24 (NKJV) 2/2 Carol & Hobart Halsey 2/2 Sheila & Edward Hendricks 2/5 Sandy & Paul Smith 2/6 Jane & Frank Cebula 2/6 Betty & Frank Deibert 2/9 Margaret & Edwin Haines, Jr. 2/14 Nancy & James Herczeg 2/14 Tracey & Brian Simmons 2/14 Sharon & Gerald Slayman 2/17 Shirley & Harry Knight 2/22 Dawn & Scott Spencer 2/28 Vivian & David Gaz 2/28 Carol & Edward Sise 10 If we missed your birthday or anniversary, please accept our sincerest apologies and let the church office know so we can correct our information!

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12 A place to know Jesus, be known by Jesus, and make Him known to others. Elkton United Methodist Church 219 East Main Street Elkton, MD Address Service Requested Contac t I nfor mation 219 East Main Street Elkton, MD (410) eumc@comcast.net Web site: Chu r c h St a f f Senior Pastor... Karen F. Bunnell Associate Pastor of Visitation Ministries... Rev. Brett Pinder Pastor of Counseling and Support Group Rev. Don Hurst Children & Education Ministries Director.Shannon Laramore Youth & Young Adults Ministries Director..Sandy Wherry Organist/Coordinator of Music Ministries. Sharon Williams Adult Choir Director...Steven Gilmore Adult Handbell Director....Paul Deemer Children s Choir Director. Joanne Melvin Nursery Care Professionals..Mary Ann Schmidt Yolanda Gomez Treasurer... William Vassalotti Secretary...Kay Mortimer Sexton...Donald Ewing Bible Verse Cryptogram (solution is on page 3) Sun d a y Wo r s h i p Se r v i c e s 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. - Noon Sun d a y Sc h o o l (a l l ag e s ) 9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Yo u t h Fe l l o w s h i p Sunday evenings at 6:00 p.m. WORD SEARCH (solution is on page 5) ancestors blasphemy canaanites cisterns conquer corner deliverers fertile fortified groves kingdoms mercy Chu r c h Of f i c e Ho u r s Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. - Noon 12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Friday 8:00 a.m. - Noon Praise Ser vice 2nd Sunday of Each Month 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. (Weldin Hall) nations obstinate oilve orchards possession punish D JUQ LO UVV FBDQZG FBNOEZB BDM IBO ZDARG MR GFNRQZFB. YBDVDYYDUQG 4: 13 rebellious slaves spirit storerooms stubborn vineyards warning