TABERNACLE U.M.C. OUT OF THE WOODS Thoughts About the Guatemala Mission Trip

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1 TABERNACLE U.M.C. T a b e r n a c l e U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h M e t h o d i s t R o a d G r e e n s b o r o, N C T e l e p h o n e : E m a i l : T a b e r n a c l t a b e r n a c l e - u m c. o r g FE B R U A R Y OUT OF THE WOODS Thoughts About the Guatemala Mission Trip Our mission team is back (hooray!) after spending 10 (hot) days on a building trip to extremely rural Guatemala. A total of 18 members travelled down there to help construct a new United Methodist church sanctuary. The local people we met were amazing, full of smiles, gracious hearts and a work-ethic that even outpaced our own very hard-working team. While on the flight home, I began reflecting on our time there and wanted to share a few thoughts with you. Thought #1: ONE IS TOO SMALL A NUMBER TO ACHIEVE ANYTHING GREAT. I call this the law of significance. A Chinese proverb states that behind every able man there are always other able men. The truth is that teamwork is at the heart of any great achievement. That s why I assert that one is too small a number to achieve anything of significance anything of lasting value anything of eternal consequences or worth. Ecclesiastes says, Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). This truth was so evident in Guatemala. Through our teamwork, collaboration and cooperation, together, we did far more and made an eternal difference, in a way that we never could have individually. THOUGHT #2: ALL PLAYERS HAVE A PLACE WHERE THEY ADD THE MOST VALUE This was true on our Mission team. Brad Ehrhardt was our team leader, handling the dizzying logistics of taking 18 people to Central America and bringing them back home safely. He was phenomenal. Jay Gordon helped scree and trowel the concrete floor, because he s strong and good at that. Others mixed mortar or concrete, Karen Moore & Lynda Gordon were constantly encouraging for the whole group, and when it came time to talk to the local children about God, the team turned to me. And some of you did your part in making our team work. Jerry Brothers got up at 4:00 a.m. to drive us to the airport, Joyce Sosnowski kept our mission money straight, some of you ate at a luncheon to raise money for a trip you knew you wouldn t be going on. Some of you supported the trip financially while others wrote letters to encourage us while nearly 2,000 miles from home. And each one of you played an important part through your prayers for us. THOUGHT #3: WE METHODISTS GOT IT RIGHT WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT BEING A CONNECTIONAL CHURCH.HOW THERE IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN US THAT GOES BEYOND ANY EXTERNAL DIFFERENCES. We learned that there is a language that transcends every nation.that exceeds all barriers that rises above every obstacle of nationality, race, culture, or color and that is the universal language of God s love. We didn t have to speak Spanish & they didn t have to speak English for us to share that common bond. Friends you don t have to go to Guatemala to find out that truth. You don t have to cross a continent, a border, or an ocean to experience what I m talking about. That lesson is as close as crossing the street. After all, any place can be the right place to be part of Christ s mission team! Grace and Peace! Pastor John

2 BOY SCOUT SUNDAY February 7 th Luncheon to follow worship Celebrating 100+ years, we will honor our Boy Scouts in our worship service this day. For many years, the Boy Scouts have sought to prepare youth to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetime by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. The Scouts invite everyone to a SPECIAL LUNCHEON in the Fellowship Hall immediately following the 11:00am service. SCOUT OATH On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout law; To help others at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. Trustworthy Loyal Helpful Friendly Courteous Kind Scout Law A scout is: Obedient Cheerful Thrifty Brave Clean Reverent

3 Ash Wednesday Worship Service of Ashes Wednesday, February 10 th, 7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday is a day of penitence marking the start of the season of Lent. On this day we are reminded of our own humanity, mortality, and the hope of resurrection Jesus Christ offers each of us. Our sins and past failures are put into the light of who we are yet to be, by the grace of God. With our Ash Wednesday service, we officially begin the Lenten season with a Service of Ashes. During the service, you may choose to have the sign of the cross made with ashes (from last year s Palm Sunday palms) on your forehead as a sign of your repentance and faith. Join us for this spiritually moving service. IN PREPARATION FOR THIS POWERFUL SERVICE, YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO FAST UNTIL YOUR EVENING MEAL. Fast and Feast The season of Lent is the period of 40 days (not including Sundays) before the great celebration of Easter. It is a season that helps us prepare for the sacrifice Jesus made at Calvary s cross. Lent is a time of evangelism, conversion and growth through the disciplines of self-examination, prayer and fasting. Traditionally, believers have sought to give up and take on during Lent; to deny some pleasure (TV, certain food, drink or sleep) or to take on an additional time of study, worship, ministry or service. All of these actions are intended to help us become more open to God s grace so that we may worthily participate in the mystery of God s death and resurrection. Rev. Arthur Lichtenberg, when presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, quoted this Lenten advice: Fast from criticism, and feast on praise. Fast from self-pity, and feast on joy. Fast from ill-temper, and feast on peace. Fast from resentment, and feast on contentment. Fast from jealousy, and feast on love. Fast from pride, and feast on humility. Fast from selfishness, and feast on service. Fast from fear, and feast on faith. The SourceBook of Wit and Wisdom The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love...for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

4 God and HIStory The Divine Love-Story of God s Relentless Pursuit of You Have you ever wondered what the Bible is really all about? 66 books, but it s really just one story...god s story...a story that has been told throughout history. In fact, you could say it s really HIStory! Beginning in February, we are going to take a good, long look at this story of God and his constant efforts to win our hearts and love. Invite a friend and join us for this worship series and gain a greater appreciation of what our Bible is all about! February 14 ADAM & EVE: Perfect Potential February 21 ABRAHAM: Promises from God February 28 MOSES: Promises Kept and a Passover March 6 DAVID: Having a Passion for God March 13 PROPHETS: Corrective Principles from God March 20 [Palm/Passion Sunday] Tabernacle Easter Cantata JESUS: His Pain, Our Pardon March 27 [Easter] JESUS Resurrection: When the Dead Begin to Move! April 3 THE DISCIPLES & THE HOLY SPIRIT: God s Power in the World April 10 HEAVEN: In God s Perfect Presence April 17 YOU AND ME: God s Plan for Us We need your help with our Sunday night meal preparations for our youth and children s ministry time. Anyone in the congregation is welcome to volunteer. You do not have to have a child in either program. Ideally we would have several people on a rotation basis willing to prepare simple meals that are fully funded by the church. We can transition anyone interested into a rotation so don t worry about volunteering if you haven t worked in the kitchen area before. Please contact Kim Cripps or Rev. Justin Cabe if you would like to serve our church in any way.

5 Tabernacle U.M.C. Newsletter February 2016 February 6: 1:45pm vs. Alamance Fire Dept. February 13: 2:40pm vs. PG Methodist February 1: 6:15pm vs. PG Methodist February 4: 8:00pm vs. Bethlehem February 11: 8:00pm vs. Vandalia February 6: 11:00am vs. Bethlehem Church February 13: 11:00am vs. PG Methodist February 1: 9:00pm vs. PG Baptist February 8: 7:00pm vs. New Covenant February 15: 8:00pm vs. Vandalia Heroic St. Valentine We probably think of romance when Valentine s Day comes. That s fine, but as Paul Harvey used to say, you really should know the rest of the story. St. Valentine was a Christian priest and martyr who lived about A.D The Roman emperor at the time was Claudius II. As a successful general, Claudius would not allow his soldiers to marry, because he wanted to make sure they could go to battle quickly. He thought family ties would make the men reluctant to leave home. Because Valentine promoted marriage and family life, he was jailed and later convicted of going against the orders of the emperor. He was martyred on February 14, the day we remember him and our loved ones. While in jail, the jailer s daughter befriended him. He wrote her a letter of appreciation and signed it From Your Valentine. The tradition of exchanging valentines grew out of that heartfelt gesture. While in prison and before his death, he converted 46 guards and their families to Christianity. In 498 A.D., Pope Gelasius declared February 14 as St. Valentine's Day. Valentine's love for God and humanity has made him "the patron of love" in the Roman Catholic Church and for people around the world. By the mid-1700s it was common practice for friends and sweethearts to exchange trinkets made in the shape of hearts or to send handwritten notes of affection on February 14. Why not tell someone you love them this week!

6 February 1 February 2 February 3 February 4 February 5 February 6 February 7 February 8 February 9 Jerry Spence, Kay Arnold, Kim Layton, Kristen Baker Chris Barker, Karla Tester, Alan Younts Nick Nelson, Julie Christopher, Roger Kendrick, George Conklin Dee Wolff, Wilma Byrd, Glenda Stout Steve Hemphill, Glenn Hancock, Diane Asbury, Matthew Davis William Oman Tee Barnhill, Doris Sizemore, Mary Drum Tracey Barrett, Michael Turner, Jeremy Jarrett Howard Capps, Ben Fields, Henry Gray, Cameron Denny February 10 Phil Braxton, Ronnie Stout, Paula Barnhill, John Hogan February 12 Katy Keating February 13 Warren Ginn, Annette Turner February 14 Lula Mae Connolly, Tom Rousey, Marjorie Smith, Kaela Bellefeuil February 15 Sandy Guffey, Todd Somers, Wayne Miller, Nancy Royal, Marissa Gaither February 16 Sharon Kasey, Carolyn Toole, Emily Scotton February 17 Ashley Brown, Janice Horney February 18 Donna Reynolds, Kay Kiger, Sam Hinson, Sara Jane Bowers, Ryan Routh, Virginia Davis, Tanner Millikan February 19 Kevin Jones, Holly Lee February 21 Amy Blake, Brandon Burke February 23 Betty Jo Marion, Jane Rousey, Margee Wrenn, Mary Ellen Stephens, Gregg Reynolds February 24 Frankie Davis, James Stewart, John Dalton, Brittney Payne February 25 Cindy Millikan, John Beal, David Stephens February 26 Danny Murray, Jacob Griffin February 27 Daniel Ehrhardt, Chelsea Kiger February 28 Mel Brinkley, Joanna Shaughnessy, Betty Lyman, Carol Lambert, Chad Humphries

7 Tabernacle U.M.C. Newsletter February 2016 February 02 Jimmy and Rebecca Collins February 16 Darrell and Cynthia Lashley February 03 John and Sharon Hogan February 17 Jerry and Terry Spence February 05 Joe and Judy Brotherton February 20 George and Lisa Conklin February 09 Frank and Diana Hairr February 20 Keith and Linda Newman February 11 Kent and Andrea Staley February 22 Bryan and Tami Fields February 14 Mike and Angela Drum February 22 David and Helen Wilson February 14 Daniel and Janie Cockman February 28 Herb and Sandy Jones February 15 Shawn and Jessica Brown The idea is simple. Make a pot of homemade soup, invite your neighbors, and create a community rich in grace and kindness. Stop by the Fellowship Hall for dinner on Sunday, February 28th at 5:00 pm. Be sure to invite a neighbor. The meal is free for all. Want to help? Volunteers are needed to make a pot of soup to share. Please bring your soup in a Crockpot to the Fellowship Hall before the service. March13th -16th, 7:00 pm America's Funniest Minister Rev. Andy Lambert You are invited to come out and enjoy internationally acclaimed humorist, author, lecturer, and evangelist Rev. Andy Lambert (Nursery will be provided during all services.) Contact Laurie Scotton at ldscotton@bellsouth.net HEROES OF HISTORY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL JUNE 26TH-30TH Please pray about how you can help support this important event in the life of our church. Kim Cripps, Children s Minister

8 A NEW Adult small group is starting! A new Small Group/Sunday School class began last month. Though open to all, it is especially designed for those who attend the ALIVE worship but also want the value of a small group/sunday School class. Immediately following the ALIVE Service, you are invited to join the discovery and discussion of God's Holy word through scripture, short videos and prayer. Wanda Swain and Amy Ehrhardt will co-lead the class from 10:50 11:40 a.m. each Sunday morning. For more information, please feel free to contact Wanda at or wanda@piedmonthr.com. Visit our website for upcoming events, newsletters, bulletins and more! INCLEMENT WEATHER In case of inclement weather during our winter months please make sure all of your contact info is up to date and listen out for phone tree messages, s, and post to our website for schedule changes! February 7 February 14 February 21 February 28 Greeters Sandy Guffey Reenie Jefferson Diane Hancock Lavon Helms CD Delivery Kay Kiger Iris Brothers Terry Spence Sandra Goins Sound Pete Cox Andy Griffin Brian Williamson Brandon Burke Children s Church Emily Hendrick Michelle Newman New Calendar Policies: Please check the church calendar in the office BEFORE you schedule your event. There will be a new date request form that should be filled out for all future events and changes not currently on the calendar. Please fill out and or put in the Office Administrator mailbox. Copies of the date request form will be available in the church office on the table under the staff mailboxes. This will assist us in making sure there are no conflicts in events and provide contact information in case changes need to be made. Thank You, Caretta Brown-Office Administrator Worship Associates JR Moss Erin Burke Julie Landen Karen Yates Kathy Edmondson Nursery Tanya Roach Cindy Baker Terry Bradley Sandra Kiger February Coordinator: Debbie Gill Karen Moore Emily Hendricks Acolytes Anna Skipper Bailey Dunn Tanner and Justin Greeson Hannah Woods Abbey Stewart Charlotte Stewart Logan Erhardt