News of New Hope. Triumphant Song Breaks Forth. New Hope United Methodist Church 200 E New Hope Road Goldsboro, NC

Transcription

1 News of New Hope Less than a dozen stories appear in all four Gospels. One of these is the account of Palm Sunday. Through the centuries, it has been referred to as the Triumphant Entry. Much is made about how at the start of the week Jesus is greeted with the welcome of a king, but by the end of the week, is rejected as a common criminal. Palm Sunday is filled with irony. Jesus enters to loud cheers from a crowd who thought He was their kind of king. By the end of the week it was clear Jesus was not their kind of king. Cheers quickly turned to howls. Why through the centuries is Palm Sunday referred to as the Triumphant Entry? A reader INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Team Reports 2-3 Ministry 4 Prayer 6 Blessings 5 Pastor s 8 Sports 10 Celebrations 11 Pastor s Pen 12 New Hope United Methodist Church 200 E New Hope Road Goldsboro, NC Triumphant Song Breaks Forth Matthew 21:1-17, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:29-40, John 12:12-19 A Meditation Celebrating Palm Sunday and Holy Week Sunday Schedule Brookdale Service 10:00 Sunday School 11:00 Morning Worship & Children s Church (ages 3-8) Mar 10:30 4:00 Ringers of New Hope practice could conclude based on how the story ends that we should call Palm Sunday, The Misinterpreted Entry. The cheers at the beginning were cheers only because the people had a wrong idea in their heads! If they had the idea in their heads that Jesus had in His, then they wouldn t have waited until the end of the week to offer their disappointment. They were cheering only because up until then, they had the idea Jesus could become the king they were looking for. Since the week ended with Jesus upon a cross, why is it still called, Triumphant Entry? (Continued on page 2) Scout Meetings Mon. Cub Scouts 6:30 Tues. Scout Troop 8 7:00 29th Court of Honor at 6:30 Thurs. Girl Scouts 7: Mar 1-4: Mom s Morning Out 9-1 Mar 6: Adopt-A- 3 Mar 8-11: Mom s morning out 9-1 Mar 10: Finance 7 Mar 12: Upward 10 Mar 13: Daylight Saving Time Mar 15-18: Mom s Morning Out 9-1 Mar 15: Women of New 7 Mar 17: Church 7 Mar 19: Upward 10 Mar 20: Palm Sunday Mar 22-25: Mom s morning out 9-1 Mar 24: Maundy Thursday service 7 Mar 25: Good Friday Service 7 Mar 27: Easter 7, 10:30 For full calendar visit g

2 (Continued from page 1) If Jerusalem was on its feet on Sunday, then all the cosmos was on its feet come Friday. The heavenly perspective saw exactly how Jesus intended to rule. Jerusalem didn t know it at the time, but their king had indeed come. The one they were cheering for was indeed coming to conquer and they were right to receive Him as royalty. Ironic how the crowd was cheering for all the wrong reasons, but ultimately right in how Jesus was indeed king in a way they could have never predicted. How often what we seek God for, praise God for, celebrate God for, is entirely misplaced, misunderstood, and misinterpreted. When I m not careful, I call blessings when I m healthy, wealthy, and enriched, and I call curses when I m weak, limited, and out of sorts. The irony of Palm Sunday is how it shows people cheering for a Savior they thought was coming to make them healthy, wealthy, and enriched, but they got something they didn t expect. Jesus was coming so that a world mired in sin could be set free from wrong expectations, and learn to see what true health, wealth, and enrichment really look like. Although their cheers were for a king to bring them privilege, the irony is that Jesus was a king, bringing them far more privilege than they could have imagined. Sin is when we underestimate God s idea of good. The Gospels only cover 3 years of Jesus life. Over that three year period of Jesus work and ministry, the writers are selective over what is presented. How interesting in three years time, there are 156 weeks to write about. Without compare it is the last week of Jesus life that represents the largest segment of attention we receive from Jesus life. Palm Sunday brought cheers, but for all the wrong reasons. The irony is that Jesus kingly identity was due those cheers, but in a far greater way than anyone could have ever imagined. Passion week provokes us all to think about the ways we praise Jesus for gifts which are less than He intends to give. His greatest kingly gift is enabling us to look and live just like Him. ~Steve Wellman, Pastor Ode to a Volunteer Many will be shocked to find When the day of judgment nears That there's a special place in heaven Set aside for volunteers. Furnished with big recliners, Satin couches and footstools, Where there's no committee chairman, Nor group leaders or car pools, No eager team that needs a coach, No festival and no bake sale, There will be nothing to staple, Not one thing to fold or mail, Telephone lists will be outlawed, But a finger snap will bring Cool drinks and gourmet dinners, And rare treats fit for a king. You ask, "Who'll serve these privileged few And work for all they're worth?" Why all those who reaped the benefits, And not once volunteered on earth. ~Maryella Vause Page 2

3 Men in Missions Quietly, the men at New Hope go about finding cords to cover, trees to trim, signs to secure, and ceilings tiles to change. The work of keeping the building safe and repaired is never ending. It would be difficult to name each of the individuals who gave of their time and talents to the upkeep of the church buildings but their work doesn t go unnoticed and is so much appreciated by all. The words Thank you just don t seem enough. But the church family does want to thank those talented and dedicated workers who give so willingly of their time real stewardship. ~Larry Filion, Trustee Chair and Interim UMM President Women of New Hope The current year has not been cooperative for the Women of New Hope. Both the January and February meetings were canceled and we will try again for March 15th at 7 pm. All women, whether a member of the church or not, are welcome to attend and share in the fellowship, planning, and mission work of the group. March 5th the study Latin America: People and Faith will be at First United MC in Wilson. On March 12th St. Paul UMC will host a district mission study from 9-1pm on Created for Happiness: Understanding Your Life in God. April 23rd St. Luke UMC will host the District study The Church and People with Disabilities. ~Doris Offield President A Note From the Keys and Bells Please come and worship at the services offered during Holy Week and then Easter Sunday. These times of worship will be such a blessing! Our cantata is Because He Lives and will certainly lift your hearts and glorify our risen Lord! The Ringers of New Hope will be providing special music as well. To God be the Glory! Blessings. ~Hope Porter, Director of Music Ministries Children s Ministry Larry Filion donated some great material to the children's ministry. Here we come jeopardy! Bible jeopardy that is. r ~Katie Stilley, Children s Ministries Coordinator Finance Committee The Finance Committee will meet on March 10th at 7 pm. ~Frankie Sutton, Chair Worship Committee The Worship Committee will meet on March 14 th at 7pm to finalize service during Holy Week and begin planning summer events. ~Debbie Sutton, Chair Scouting Once again, the scouting programs were celebrated during the worship service on February 28th. NHUMC is home to Pack 8 and Troop 8 for the Boy Scouts, and to Girl Scout Troop 151. See page 1 for the schedule of meetings. ~Larry Filion, Scouting Coordinator Page 3 Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. March 2016

4 Ministry Feature of the Month A Local Church With A Worldwide Reach {Ministry Spotlight for March: The New Hope Monthly Newsletter} t was the first summer I started at New Hope, when I was visiting a shut in who hadn't I attended in a long time. Once I was invited into her house, laying out on the living room table was the New Hope newsletter, which had just been mailed a few days before. I made the comment lightheartedly, Well, I'm glad to see you're reading a newspaper that speaks the truth! She then responded about how that newsletter, which I had considered regular, routine activity of what we do, was so vital for her to remain connected. It was more than just words printed on a page. How astonishing to hear, that for this woman, she looked forward to receiving this newsletter each month with great anticipation. Declining health had kept her from attending. The discouragement was only compounded by losing the ability to return to the place, where her heart was lifted, and her morale sustained. This newsletter is the one thing I have every month that reminds me of the place I called home for many years. By sitting with that newsletter each month, she was transported in heart and mind to another place. News of New Hope One summer, a few years ago, a cadet enters our sanctuary, as he and his family w e r e n o w returning to Goldsboro after some years deployed in another country. He commented how our newsletter in that far off place kept him connected. It was for him a significant reminder of who he was, and where he was from. Located in a strange place, in a strange land, it was easy to feel displaced, and more often than not, homesick. The newsletter for him was more than words on a printed page. It was a cure for a homesick heart. Perhaps my favorite testimony of all, came from a family, who shared a story about how the newsletter got passed on like circles spreading out in a whirlpool. Someone unchurched in their family was going through a very difficult time. During a conversation with their family member, it occurred to them that a devotion in the newsletter they had just received, spoke to that person's issue in way they thought could help. They past the newsletter to their family member, and at that moment, a seed was planted. I was reminded to never underestimate this outreach. Who we mail the newsletter to is only the beginning of how God multiplies the seed of this wide outreach. Through the years, I've heard some remarkable stories about where the newsletter ends up, and the hands it gets passed to. Shuts ins are receiving this ministry. Deployed cadets are receiving this ministry. Former contributors to this church, whose paths have taken them to other places, some further away than others, they receive this ministry. Our newsletter has ended up in our countries around the world. Our newsletter has ended up in prison cells. Our newsletter has ended up in hospital rooms. Our newsletter has ended up in retirement homes. At just the right time, I've had people tell me, Pastor, that newsletter came when we were going through something, and it offered exactly what we needed to hear. This ministry reminds me how New Hope is a local church with a world wide reach. This is no exaggeration. For all the time, effort, and attention, Diane Kester and her team of reporters and editors put into this each month, scores of people in far away places say, Bless you! ~Steve Wellman, pastor

5 Count Your Blessings We Hold the Promises of God 22 Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. 23 By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. 24 They will say of me, In the Lord alone are deliverance and strength. All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. uring the month of March, God s people have marching orders! For the most part, they are standing D orders (implied for each and every generation of the Faith). These orders are wrapped into instructions and promises. This month, we look carefully at the promises of God. We are confident because these promises are backed by the character of God. I sometimes joke, In God We Trust, all others pay cash! There is a truism in that humor. Humanity has a poor record for promise keeping. However, God has a perfect record of promise keeping. Verse 23 (above) instructs us that God can and will bind Himself to His Word. If God says it, you can stake your life on it and you should! Sometimes I hide money in my Bible for safe keeping. I know that most people, especially thieves, won t pick up a Bible; the people who do are hopefully influenced in righteous ways. In my mind, my Bible is safer than a bank! I needed money for the offering last week, and behold there was a bill somewhere in Isaiah. When I am broke, I desperately search my Bible! However, there is a far greater treasure within the pages of my Bible, it contains hundreds of promises for me, bound to God s Holy Name. In verse 22 (above) we see God s promises linked with salvation. God saved us, is saving us, and will save us! He saved us in Christ, to new life, as children of God. He is saving us in that He takes care of our daily need. God will save us, in that our future inheritance is to live in Heaven, with God forever! Do these promises make you want to shout amen? Amen! Live today in the promises of God. Open your Book of Promises for your daily strength. We are even promised strength (see verse 24). Remind Father God of His promises to you; He loves that! Put your trust in true Character, not in humanity, nor in the circumstance of the day. Armed with these mighty promises, we will not vacillate, like a leaf blowing in the wind. We can stand firm the way God intended for us to live. Count your blessings. They are at your fingertips. Strengthen yourself today, in the promises of Almighty God! ~Chaplain Al Thompson, Chair SPRC March 2016 Page 5

6 Prayer for Healing Andrew Short Betty Acree Fairy Crumley Geraldine Stancil Greg Forrester Hilda Britt Jane Fields Janice Boyd Jim & Denise Mullen Jo Sutton Linda Potter Lucille Bagley Marion Adair Mark Reid Millie Smith Preddy Yates Rev. Mallie Hinnant Rev. Rose & Ray Hicks Wayne Turner Will & Ileen Davies Prayer Ministry Prayer for Bereavement Family & Friends of Glenn Bagley Family & Friends of Edna Small Family & Friends of Eugenia Brooks Family & Friends of Eula Shrewsbury Family & Friends of Dock Crumley Family & Friends of Millie Dormish Prayer for Thanksgiving Pastor Steve Wellman & family The New Hope church family Upward Sports Ministry Sunday School Ministry New Hope s Scouting Ministry Youth & Young Adult Ministry Ringers of NH & Chancel Choir Prayer for Intercession Members of our armed forces Andrew Ayres Richard Egan Austin Harr SPC Donald Kester, Jr. Logan Turner Blake Turner Pvt. Joseph Wilson NHUMC Sunday School ministry Our expected expenses Page 6 March 2016

7 News of New Hope The News of New Hope is published by New Hope United Methodist Church for members, visitors, and others interested in the activities and mission of t h e c h u r c h. F o r submissions of articles, a n n o u n c e m e n t s, o r interviews, you may editor@gotnewhope.org or drop them by the church office. Church: Staff: Diane Kester, Editor Lindsay Krochta, Sports Editor Janice Rouse, Church Secretary Websites: District Web Site: March 20: 11 am, Palm Sunday Worship March 24: 7 pm, Maundy Thursday service at Saulston UMC March 25: 7 pm, Good Friday service at Daniels UMC March 27: Easter Sunday services 7 am Sunrise service at home of John & Nancy McNeill in Bear Creek followed by breakfast hosted by Anne and Joe Kosuda 10:30 AM Morning worship with music by the New Hope Ringers and the Chancel Choir; special activity at Children s Church Coming Events March 6: 3 March 10: Finance Committee at 7 March 12: Beginning of Upward Soccer 10 March 13: Daylight Saving Time begins March 15: Women of New Hope at 7 pm March 17: Church Council meeting at 7 meeting open to all March 19: Second week of Upward Soccer April 2: Upward Soccer continues April 2: Mini Golf for Multiple Sclerosis 10-3 at Larry Bill's Funtime Golf April 17: District Missions Workshop Page 7

8 Upward Soccer Season The new Upward soccer season begins with games on Saturday, March 12th. The upper division age group will play at 10:00 AM, the middle division age group will play at 11:00 AM, and the youngest division age group will play at noon. We skip Easter weekend, and assuming there are no rain outs, the final games are on Saturday, May 7th, and Upward celebration day the week after, on Saturday, May 14th. Special Lenten Services The Lenten season started strongly with an inspiring Ash Wednesday service at Bethel. Our hope is that we can end the season as strongly as we started with well attended services on Maundy Thursday at Saulston and Good Friday at Daniels. Both services will begin at 7:00 PM. Easter Services We will begin our Easter celebration with a sunrise service at John McNeil's at 7:00 AM, the morning of March 27th. The Kosuda's have once again opened their home and offered breakfast immediately following the service. At 10:30 AM, we will gather for the Easter celebration with hand bells, cantata, and special activities for the children. Butterfly Release on Easter Sunday The first Sunday of March, we will pass out caterpillars from Insect Lore to all the children. These caterpillars are timed to burst into butterflies on Easter Sunday. Parents can assist the children with simple instructions in the care of these little creatures leading up the big day. Vacation Bible School The VBS team has tentatively made plans for this year's summer Bible school. We are considering a 5-day event this year, beginning on Sunday, June 19th and concluding Thursday, June 23rd. Daniels is interested in partnering with us for this event. Mini Golf for MS Paige and Marvin are looking forward to this year's mini golf for MS. Some of you may have already noticed that our old friends at the All Stars Fun Center is now no longer in business. I know at least one 8 year old who is sad to see that business go! There is a new mini golf course behind Wal Mart in Rosewood that will serve as this year's location. Updated Policies for Building Use and Special Events The policies for building use and special events have now been updated. Many thanks to Larry and his team for their exceptional work on this! Patriotic Cantata at Bethel on Sunday, June 26th This year, Bethel would like to host the summer Patriotic cantata. They have invited the hand bells to perform, so it looks as if we will go on tour this year. Maybe our next event, we can open for the Raleigh Ringers when they visit Europe this summer! District Missions Event at Johnston Community College April 17th Don't forget the district wide missions extravaganza at Johnston Community College on Sunday, April 17th. The Capital district is inviting all churches to participate. The invitation calls for each church to share some ministry that other churches in the district might like to learn more about. In the past, we've fielded more than a few questions about our Upward program and Mom's Morning Out. These might be at least two things we could consider putting on display. Page 8 March 2016

9 Stewards of God s Gifts Stewards of God s Gifts January 1-February 29, 2016 Giving Received $23, Expenses to date $ 27, Balance $ -3, February Special income Apportionments $50.00 Capital Improvements $ Charitable insurance $ Memorials Dock Crumly $ Edna Small $50.00 Eugenia Brooks $ Glenn Bagley $25.00 Upward Registration $1, Upward Scholarships $ Volunteer Hours un measurable! Boy Scout Troop 8 Calendar Mar 01 Troop Meeting New Hope UMC 7pm 03 Torhunta District Roundtable St Paul UMC 7pm 03 OA Chapter Meeting St Paul UMC 7pm OA Spring Fellowship/Ordeal Camp Tuscarora 5pm 06 Adopt-a-Highway New Hope UMC 3pm 08 Troop Meeting New Hope UMC 7pm 13 Daylight Saving Time Begins U.S.A. 2am 15 Troop Meeting New Hope UMC 7pm 16 WCPS Early Dismissal Wayne County N/A Cliffs of the Neuse campout Goldsboro 6pm 20 NHUMC Newsletter Deadline New Hope UMC 1pm 22 Troop Meeting (Last Day for Awards) NH 7pm 24 WCPS End of 3rd Grading Period Wayne County 25 WCPS Make-up day Wayne County 26 Daffodil Festival Fremont, NC 10am 27 Easter Sunday U.S.A. N/A WCPS No School Wayne County N/A 29 Court of Honor New Hope UMC 6:30pm TBD Troop Campout TBD TBD Page 9

10 SPORTS Lindsay Krochta, Reporter Men's Basketball Soccer Season Opening Another Upward season is beginning! The opening ceremony will be on March 12th with 3 games following. Come out to cheer on the teams and enjoy the fellowship and food! There s nothing better than the sausage biscuits and hotdogs from the volunteers at the food stand! New Hope men's basketball games are played at Community Baptist Church. Come out to enjoy the competition and watch our talented men in lively games and great shots. Games are Tuesday and Thursday nights. 2-2 New Hope vs Westminster 8: New Hope vs Grace 8: New Hope vs CBC 8: New Hope vs St. Paul 8:15 Golfing Fun Time Mini Golf for Multiple Sclerosis will be held Saturday, April 2, from 10 am until 3 pm at Larry Bill's Funtime Golf at the Walmart Rosewood shopping center. It is located behind the shoppes. $7 to play mini golf; $3 to ride bumper cars. For each person who plays or rides, Mr. Bill will donate money to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Please come out and support the local Bike MS team as we raise money for the MS Society. Riders so far are Paige Rouse, Marvin Holcomb, Jim Harry, Mike Hollowell, Linda Lepri, Thomas Forrest, and Tonya Forrest. You can join our team or refer a cyclist to us! Page 10 March 2016

11 (Continued from page 12) Notice the key words that come toward the end of the passage, This is the Lord, we trusted in Him. Here s level of trust that s more radical than most of us will ever know. Can we imagine trust in God for over 700 years? For over 7 centuries, dreams are all these people had. Most people give up on their dreams only after a few months of turning up empty. Does God really expect His people to keep dreaming, not just for years, not just for decades, but for centuries? Read prophets like Isaiah, and it becomes clear the greatest disappointment God has over His called out people involved the issue of forsaken trust. God intends to deliver on promises, and for those who give up on the dream, they miss out on the rejoicing. In this passage, Isaiah is given an incredible promise. No doubt there were people who heard it then that thought it was too good to be true, and walked away without believing. There were others who heard it and decided to start living by it. They were able to dream for a few days, maybe a few weeks, maybe a few months, but as the months turned into years, the power of the dream began to fade. Rejoicing on Easter day did indeed finally arrive, but how many in the company were long-time dreamers? Most had long since given up on their dreams, and settled for life in the real world where dreams are nothing more than childish fantasies. Seven hundred years before the first Easter, God s people are given a vision. Some of those who heard it originally didn t believe it. Some of those who heard it believed for awhile, but the grinding wait eventually eroded the dreams they once had. Without compare, the strongest displays of divine emotion throughout the prophets involve God passionately reminding His people to hold onto their dreams. God intends to deliver on those dreams. In the case of Easter, the dreams really did come true. Is God expecting too much in calling His people to live by their dreams, even for 700 years if we need to? Scripture shows God not only expects His people to live by their dreams, but He demands it. If in our own hearts Easter is losing some of its luster, we might need to do an inventory of our dreams. God intends to deliver, but those who rejoice, must first learn to trust. March Birthdays 3/20 Lindsey Krochta 3/22 Ben Merritt 3/26 Roger Lewis 3/27 Nancy McNeill 3/30 Bob Boyette 3/1 Frankie Sutton, Jr. 3/5 Jenny Lewis 3/7 Debra Young 3/8 Greg Forrester 3/9 Joshua Bryant 3/18 Terry Butler 3/19 Isaac Krueger March Anniversaries 3/6 Cindy & Joshua Price Page 11

12 Pastor s Pen by Steve Wellman Dreams Really Do Come True {Isaiah 25:6-9 (A Meditation Celebrating Easter Sunday)} Even a quick read of the prophets is obvious to any reader that God is provoked. The messages are not always to read, not because the material is too over our heads intellectually, but because the material comes across as intense. What has God this heated? As we celebrate another Easter, how often this season is viewed as just another holiday, sadly, even by believers. We ve seen it all before. Perhaps the way to see Easter anew is to rewind time and consider those who could only dream about Easter. Isaiah was a prophet who came over 700 years before the first Easter. One of the most beautiful promises of Easter is found in Isaiah 25:6-9. On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain He will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; He will remove His people s disgrace from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. In that day they will say, Surely this is our God; we trusted in Him, and He saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in Him; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation. (Continued on page 11) The News of New Hope New Hope United Methodist Church 200 East New Hope Road Goldsboro, NC Pastor: Rev. Stephen M. Wellman Music Director: Hope Porter Secretary: Janice Rouse: secretary@gotnewhope.org Office Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 am - 1 pm One to the Power of One. NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID GOLDSBORO, NC PERMIT 401 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Easter Sunrise Service March 27 7 AM Lake Side 106 Bear Creek Rd.