February 2019 I AM JUST THE MESSENGER!

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1 Newbegun United Methodist Church Worshiping God; Loving Jesus; Serving People 2119 Nixonton Road Elizabeth City, North Carolina H/O / Cell Web site: rbraun@nccumc.org February 2019 I AM JUST THE MESSENGER! Every four years the entire United Methodist Church elects delegates from every Annual Conference and gathers together in one big General Conference. The delegates vote on changes to the Book of Discipline. Only a General Conference can make those changes. The changes in language can only be applied to secular functions of the church. No one can change the original Doctrines of the UMC. These doctrines include our basic, fundamental Christian beliefs such as the Trinity, salvation by grace, holiness in living, etc What language can be changed in the Discipline is about finances, how congregations are formed, how conferences are created, and especially the qualifications for ordination. For my forty years in the United Methodist Church I have heard arguments for or against the ordination of LGTBQ s at every Annual Conference I have attended. It has now reached critical mass. Therefore, a Special General Conference has been called to address this one issue and this one issue only. This Conference will be held in St. Louis, MO on February 23-26, (Definitions: L is for Lesbian, a woman attracted to her same sex. G is for Gay, a man attracted to his same sex. T is for Transgender, a person undergoing a medical procedure to change their birth gender. B is for Bisexual, a person attracted to both genders equally. Q is for Queer, a person whose gender identity does not fit any of the above.) The General Conference will be looking at three main proposals (and there may be more). First allowing LGTBQ ordination and then letting each congregation decide for themselves whether they will allow any LGBTQ person to be appointed to their congregation. We all remain united under one UMC. Second, is to keep the same language that is in the 2016 Book of Discipline and enforce it. Right now it says: LGBTQ persons are of sacred worth but the lifestyle is incompatible with Christian teachings. We still stay united. The third option is to create two or three separate General Conferences with each congregation choosing which General Conference they will unite with either traditional or liberal or something in between. (See the proposal sheet that you can pick up in the back of the church.) We don t need to do anything right away. Soon, we may have to choose, but not now. All I can do now is give you all the information I receive. As more information arrives, I will let everyone know. It is your church and you have a right to know what is going on. PS please don t shoot the messenger! Grace and peace, Pastor Roger

2 February Birthdays 1 Dan Garrenton 13 Donna Caras 6 Lee Forsblom 15 Amanda Garrenton 7 Sue Kruse 17 Mark Small And Anniversaries Financial Update 2019 (Budget and Needed Weekly reflect the new, modified budget from last Administrative Council meeting on ) 2019 Budget $71, % Needed Weekly $1, % 1/27/19 needed $5,496 8% (4 Sundays) 1/27/19 Collected $8,972 13% Ahead of Budget $3,476 +5% NOISY COIN HAS COLLECTED $ THROUGH January 27, 2019 Acolytes Serving Sundays in February: Greeters and Ushers February 3 TBS February 3 Janet and Clinton Saunders February 10 TBS February 10 Janet and Clinton Saunders February 17 TBS February 17 Janet and Clinton Saunders February 24 TBS February 24 Janet and Clinton Saunders Readers Flowers February 3 Amanda Garrenton February 3 Bill and Sue Kruse February 10 Ruth Jennings February 10 Lee and Mary Fprsblom February 17 Bill Kruse February 17 Mark and Stacy Small February 24 Donna Moore February 24 Beverly Trotman Sound System Ministry: Roy Daniels, Bill Trueblood Trustee for February: Bill Trueblood

3 JOYS AND CONCERNS Members at home: Fannie Cowell; Fay and Herbert Moore, Family and friends at home: Ron Wells; Cheyenne Darling Members and friends in nursing homes: Mary Overman Currituck House, Moyock, NC Melba Norrell Brookdale of Elizabeth City Eva Harris Cary, North Carolina Newbegun church ministries & members Our school partner Weeksville Elementary School Our leaders in church and government Our mission outreach and missionary Our spiritual growth Our financial stewardship The following Thank You s are brought to you courtesy of the Noisy Coin. The Salvation Army of Pasquotank County thanks us for the $62.00 donation for their ongoing work. They assist with utilities, rent, food, prescriptions, and spiritual guidance along with disaster relief. Lisa Womble, counselor at Weeksville Elementary School writes, Thank you so much for providing a wonderful Christmas for one of our students at Weeksville Elementary. May God continue to bless you as you reach out to others in need. From the family of Vann Irvin: Our sincere thanks for your support and kindness as we confronted Vann s passing. Hosting his memorial was so helpful to all of us. Weeksville Elementary School can always use: school supplies, copy paper, hand sanitizer, tissues, band aids, Christmas Angel Tree participation, art and music supplies (old unused instruments), volunteers, recess equipment, and tutors from 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm on set days.

4 YEARLY BIBLE READINGS You can read your Bible through in one year! Below is a format that lets you track how you are doing. Just check off each section as you go along. There are three readings for each day. Have you read through the entire Bible yet? Make this the year. Three verses a day keeps the blues away. February 2019 DAY READING 1 READING 2 READING 3 1 Luke 23:1-25 Genesis 41 Psalm 32 2 Luke 23:26-56 Genesis 42 Psalm 33 3 Luke 24:1-12 Genesis 43 Psalm 34 4 Luke 24:13-53 Genesis 44 Psalm 35 5 Hebrews 1 Genesis 45:1- Psalm 36 46:27 6 Hebrews 2 Genesis 46:28- Psalm 37 47:31 7 Hebrews 3:1- Genesis 48 Psalm 38 4:13 8 Hebrews 4:14- Genesis Psalm 39 6:12 9 Hebrews 6:13-20 Exodus 1-2 Psalm Hebrews 7 Exodus 3-4 Psalm Hebrews 8 Exodus 5:1-6:27 Proverbs 1 12 Hebrews 9:1-22 Exodus 6:28- Proverbs 2 8:32 13 Hebrews 9:23- Exodus 9-10 Proverbs 3 10:18 14 Hebrews 10:19- Exodus Proverbs Hebrews 11:1-22 Exodus Proverbs 5 16 Hebrews 11:23- Exodus 15 Proverbs 6:1-7: Hebrews 12 Exodus Proverbs 7: Hebrews 13 Exodus Proverbs 8 19 Matthew 1 Exodus Proverbs 9 20 Matthew 2 Exodus Proverbs Matthew 3 Exodus 24 Proverbs Matthew 4 Exodus Proverbs Matthew 5:1-20 Exodus Proverbs Matthew 5:21-48 Exodus Proverbs Matthew 6:1-18 Exodus Proverbs Matthew 6:19-34 Exodus Proverbs Matthew 7 Exodus Proverbs Matthew 8:1-13 Exodus Proverbs N/A N/A N/A

5 Please keep saving those aluminum cans and depositing them out back in the recycle receptacle. We now have a large plastic bin underneath the outside stairs leading to the second floor. Put your clean cans in a plastic bag, tie them tight, and put them in the bin. Easy! And when the bin is full that will make a pickup load to re-cycle and get some cash. AND THE SIGN SAID: The most rewarding work is usually without pay! February 3 All God s Children February 10 Asbury Homes February 17 Red Bird Mission, Kentucky February 24 Salvation Army A PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH I pray for the United Methodist Church and the 2019 General Conference that they would lead us by the Holy Spirit into deeper waters. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon them, I pray, with a fresh anointing to live out their calling. I ask this for our Bishops and our delegates, both clergy and lay. God, may all things be accomplished through the leading of, and submission to, the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In all ways and in all things, may selfish ambition be put to death and the life of the Spirit be unleashed in the hearts of those who lead us. Your Word admonishes us to clothe ourselves with humility toward one another, that You oppose the proud but give grace to those who are humble. By your healing touch lead the United Methodist Church to this way of living out Christ Jesus with one another. May everyone at the 2019 General Conference put aside any self-serving ways and choose to consider each other s needs first. In Christ Jesus, Our Lord, Amen.

6 LEARNING (MORE OR LESS) From the day we are born, we are engaged in the learning process. We learn from our environment that surrounds us sight, sound, temperature, food, comfort, and love. From the cradle to the grave these are factors that affect us on a daily basis. We learn from family, friends, school, work, and the world (near and far) that surround us. We are products of our environment and that will never change. I remember as a young child playing with new friends. My parents would want to know who their parents were. As our children grew up, we followed that former generational lead. If you surround yourself with good people, you are likely to be a fortunate son or daughter. And we wish the same for the next generation as well. As we look at news (local, state, national, or international) negative usually outweighs positive. How does this affect us as an individual or a community (local to Weeksville)? What do we learn from it? Do we learn from it? Hopefully we do. In the history of mankind there have been many great countries, dynasties, and empires. History also shows that none have endured. As one of the greatest countries on our planet, have we paid any attention to that history? Turning to our faith based community, what have we learned? Have we reached out and taught enough as our Savior asked us to do? Have all of the religions of the world done enough for their congregations and beyond to learn right from wrong, good from bad, and progress from regress? Everyone has a stake in teaching, learning, correcting, and praising. The old slogan from the past is still true, What would Jesus do? This remains as valid as ever. When it comes to learning (more or less), I prefer more. Yours in faith, fun, and fellowship, Roy Daniels

7 Newbegun United Methodist Church 2119 Nixonton Road - Elizabeth City, NC ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED