Long Memorial UMC. March Bruce

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1 Long Memorial UMC March 2012 FROM THE PASTOR S DESK When someone looks in the dictionary for the word Tradition, beside the word should be a photograph of a church. Church and tradition go hand in hand. In a world where cell phones, gas prices, and shoe styles are changing every other day, it is comforting to know that we can go to church and rest in the thought that we will do things the way we always have. We gather and listen to the same Sunday School lessons we listened to in the 1950 s, which coincidentally is seen as the high water mark of Christianity, a time when preaching was preaching, and men and women knew their place, and kids behaved and went to Sunday School religiously. In the movie Ground Hog day Bill Murray is forced to go through the same day, associate with the same people, and do the same things day after day. In much the same way, we go to church and sit beside the same people and sing the same songs and shake the same hands, and, without realizing it, our church is stuck in neutral. We are not shrinking, thank God, but we are NOT growing. There are a number of reasons for it, including a sense that people in Roxboro know where our church is located, and if they want to, they will come to us. As a pastor, I can tell you that, if we do not change our way of thinking, that kind of statement will be carved on the tombstone of Long Memorial United Methodist Church. We will continue on a slippery slope of lethargy unless something changes in our hearts, and in the direction of this church. In the last ten days a few members of this church met with Rev. Carol Goehring, a clergy person from our conference who is trained in working with churches like ours. She is going to meet with a group of ten members in the months of April, May and June. She will help us understand what our strengths are, where our weaknesses lie, and what we can do to emphasize our strengths. We hope to learn how to be more intentionally friendly, how to draw the year olds, how to incorporate them into the church, and how to determine what makes Long Memorial special. Beloved, I believe this year can end up being a watershed year for Long Memorial. If we can determine why we exist, what ministry or ministries we hang our hats on, if we come to realize that we cannot wait for the pastor to bring people into the church, this sleeping giant will wake up, and GREAT things can happen. I know it will be tough, as we look realistically at who we are. It is never easy to look honestly at ourselves. But once we do, and, wrapped in prayer, we start going forward in new and daring ways, putting tradition in its proper place, and taking risks, who knows what the future holds. I am looking forward to the great things Long Memorial will do in My prayer and hope is that you are also looking forward to what God has in mind for us. Bruce

2 NEWS FROM YOUR OUTREACH AND MISSIONS COMMITTEE UMCOR S ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING This month, on March 18, Long Memorial will join with United Methodists worldwide in One Great Hour of Sharing. On this Special Sunday, the One Great Hour of Sharing offering enables the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to respond to disasters around the world by covering its operational and administrative costs. Unlike other mission programs, UMCOR receives no World Service or other apportionment money. By giving to One Great Hour of Sharing, you enable UMCOR to keep the promise that 100% of designated gifts will go to support the designated projects. The following account from UMCOR s website, just one of many stories of assistance, will help you appreciate how your gifts have made and will make a difference: Flooding last October in El Salvador went almost unnoticed in the United States, yet thousands of Salvadorans lost their homes after seven straight days of torrential rain. According to UMCOR partner Evangelical Methodist Church of El Salvador, at least 14,000 homes and 1,000 wells were destroyed in the flooding, which was provoked by Hurricane Jova and Tropical Depression 12-E the week of October 9. Thirty-two people are known to have died, including several children. Some were swept away attempting to cross swollen rivers, while others were killed when the walls of their homes collapsed, the church reported. Across Central America, flooding and mudslides took the lives of 81 people. In El Salvador, 32,000 people were evacuated from their homes, many of whom remain in some 267 temporary shelters that have been established across the country. UMCOR s assistance to the Evangelical Methodist Church of El Salvador has helped the church purchase and distribute 300 bags of food, 250 blankets, and $3,000-worth of medicines. Emergency funds have also covered the cost of metal sheeting to help families repair damaged homes. Your gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing lay the foundation for UMCOR to manifest God s steadfast love throughout the world. Please give generously on March 18. CHRISTMAS BOXES FOR CHILDREN OF PROJECT AGAPE, ARMENIA In February s newsletter we reported that because Samaritan s Purse does not distribute Christmas Shoe Boxes in Armenia, Long Memorial will hold a special drive this summer for the children of Project Agape. Since our winter will soon turn to spring, this is just another reminder to be on the lookout for the following cold weather items needed for each box: warm caps or toboggans; and mittens or gloves. The sizes would depend on the ages of the children for whom you plan to put together boxes: infancy to 2 years; ages 3 to 6; 7 to 12; or 13 to 18. We hope that by remembering to purchase these items now, you won t run into difficulty trying to find them later on.

3 ORDER YOUR EASTER LILIES We are taking orders for Easter lilies that will be placed in the sanctuary on Easter Sunday, April 8th. Those wishing to purchase a lily in memory or in honor of someone special should call the church office ( ). The cost is $12.50 per lily. REMEMBER: Deadline for our April newsletter is Friday, March 23th at 9:00 A.M. You may bring any articles to the church office or send by to: pwade@esinc.net Thank you! PRAYER CHAIN: Members of the prayer chain are offering daily prayers for those on our prayer list. If you, or someone you love, would like daily prayers for a special need, please call Tania Edwards at or Martha Butler at Worship With Us Every Sunday 8:45 AM - Early Service - Chapel 9:45 AM - Sunday School 11:00 AM - Worship - Sanctuary DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME Don t forget to turn your clocks UP (SPRING FORWARD) one hour before going to bed on Saturday night March 10 th! UNITED METHODIST MEN Our Methodist Men will meet on Sunday, March 18, at 8:00 A.M. in the Harris Fellowship Hall and ALL men are invited to attend. Please come and enjoy a delicious breakfast and great program. MEDICAL CONCERNS Kathryn Garrett Eleanor Dickens Mary Calhoun

4 CHRISTIAN HELP CENTER NEEDS (dry goods): flour, sugar, cereal, rice, pasta. A basket is in the Narthex for you to place your donations in. Thank you! MARCH ACOLYTES: March 4 Mackenzie Clayton & Sam Hall March 11 Taylor Rogers & Logan Duncan March 18 Katie Pleasant & Anna Claire Pleasant March 25 Anniston Stovall & Noah Paith MARCH NURSERY SCHEDULE FOR 11:00 A.M. March 4 Amy Bayliff March 11 Stephanie Hodgin March 18 Stephanie Linville March 25 Terri Cates MARCH LAY READERS: March 4 11 A.M. Donna Hoover March A.M. Lois M. Winstead March A.M. Ralph Lewis March A.M. Kathryn Keith CIRCLE MEETINGS 3/26/12 1 & 2 Anna Cates 10:00 A.M. 3 Harris Hall 10:30 A.M. 4 Nancy Cole 7:30 P.M. 5 Felicia Allen 7:30 P.M. CHILDREN S CHURCH March 4, 11, 18, 25 Janet Clayton & Jill Strickland MARCH FLOWER CALENDAR March 4: Dolly Denton March 11: March 18: March 25: Nancy Lee Newell Please call the church office to place flowers in the sanctuary

5 MEETINGS ON THE AGENDA: Wednesday, March 7 7:00 P.M. Preschool Board Pastor s Study Monday, March 12 7:00 P.M UMW Executive Board - Library OUR INFORMATION Long Memorial United Methodist Church 226 North Main Street P.O. Box 310 Roxboro, NC Reverend Bruce Allen (cell) (Church Telephone) (Fax) MARCH BIRTHDAYS: March 01 Teresa Fitzgerald March 07 Harold Wilkerson, Lois M. Winstead, Tom Fitzgerald March 09 Danny Talbert March 10 Austin Currier, Tonya Gentry, Terry Foushee March 12 Daniel Oakley, David Oakley March 14 Christen Tillett March 16 Lacy Winstead March 18 Jamie Mundy March 19 Carson Allen March 21 Nancy Day March 22 Stephen Saunders, Kelsey Pleasant March 25 Sue Rhew March 28 Glenn Long, Josh Bayliff, Lisa Wesley March 29 Leah Owen, Harriett Tillett March 31 Audrey Blanks, Doug Mabe Mark your Calendar VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2012 July 8 Sunday Evening Supper with Fun and Music July :00 am - Noon Operation Overboard DARE TO GO DEEP WITH GOD! It s Time To Dive In And Discover God s Underwater Universe! Divers can swim with humpback whales and sea horses, scuba through a vibrant coral reef, and take a personal submarine to the ocean floor. As they journey below the water s surface, they will plunge into Bible stories of people with deep faith and learn to trust a God whose love is bigger than the sea. WE NEED YOU! Please make plans to join us!

6 NOTES OF THANKS Sue and I wish to thank you for our support, your prayers, your cards and gifts following the birth of our granddaughter, Reagan Piper Malary. We had intended to welcome her into this world in early March, but God had different plans, so on February 3 she felt she was ready to be a blessing to us. We feel so blessed that she is healthy, and she has already become a gift from God. We thank God for her, and we thank God for you as a congregation for your support and love. Bruce The family of Ed Harvey would like to thank Long Memorial for the quilt that he received and for the cards, calls, care and concern for him during his sickness and his family members during the time of Ed s death. AN EXPLANATION OF THE SEASON OF LENT Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word lencten, which means spring. The season is a preparation for celebrating Easter. Historically, Lent began as a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by converts and then became a time for penance by all Christians. The first Sunday describes Jesus temptation by Satan; and the Sixth Sunday (Passion/Palm Sunday), Christ s triumphal entry into Jerusalem and his subsequent passion and death. Because Sundays are always little Easters, the penitential spirit of Lent should be tempered with joyful expectation of the Resurrection. The Great Three Days- from Holy Thursday through Sunset Easter Day are the climax of Lent and a bridge into the Easter Season. These days proclaim the mystery of Jesus Christ s passion, death and resurrection. During these days, the community journeys with Jesus from the upper room, to the cross, to the tomb, and to the garden. They should be seen as a great unified service beginning with a service of Holy Communion on Holy Thursday and concluding with the services of Easter Day. SYMPATHY Our deepest sympathy is extended to: Ginny Stewart in the death of her brother-in-law, Tim Roline; Barbara Alexander in the death of her sister, Brenda Rogers Stanley; Ann Lewis in the death of her father, Edgar Ed James Harvey; Joe Weinberger in the death of his father, Joseph C. Weinberger, Sr.

7 PRESCHOOL HAM AND EGG SUPPER Free Pancakes for all registered Long Memorial Preschool children. When: Friday, March p.m. Where: Long Memorial UMC Fellowship Hall Cost: $6.00 per plate (take-out available) Contact: Stephanie Linville , Pam Day All proceeds will benefit the Long Memorial Preschool. We are very proud of our classrooms. Fundraisers help us to operate a program of high quality that is affordable to the young families we serve. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. *Tickets are available at the church office* Preschool News: When I am afraid, I will trust in You. Psalm 56:3 The children s search for signs of spring is greeted with great excitement. What a blessing it is to witness the rebirth of flowers, grass, shrubs, and trees with such freshness and beautiful color. So, March 2012 arrived like a Lion...during the night with a storm and rain but when the morning came we were greeted with a lamb day. filled with sunshine, and happy children at work and play enjoying so many activities... Looking for signs of spring each day we visit the playground Making clouds Flying kites Learning the Yellow and Blue together make Green. Planting Seeds Celebrating Dr. Seuss Continuing to learn about God s beautiful world... Rainbows... A Happy St. Patrick s Day on March 17 th!

8 Children s News: Easter Egg Hunt The Long Memorial Annual Children s Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for Sunday, April 1 st. The egg hunt will immediately follow the Church Service and the UMW Palm Sunday Lunch. We are asking people to donate the plastic eggs and/or candy. You may place the eggs and candy in the box located out in the Narthex or give to Pam. You do not have to fill the eggs -- Pam and Youth will take care of all that. So excited for a Great Day! Thank you in advance for your help with all this. Youth News: Mark your Calendar: Regular Youth Meetings: March 4: No UMYF March 11: Youth will be right after church 12:15 Lunch Provided March 18: Youth will be right after church 12:15 Lunch Provided March 25: Youth FUN DAY! MEET PAM IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT AT 2:00 PM FOR TRIP TO RALEIGH! (FUN, FOOD, AND FELLOWSHIP!) April 29 IS YOUTH SUNDAY. The Youth of Long Memorial UMC will be leading the 8:45 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Worship services. We are excited and hope you will come and share this special service with us.

9 Senior High Mission Trip to The Hinton Rural Life Center July th 12 th graders. The total cost for each participant is $ food and gas. Please help support our Summer Mission Trip CROP WALK Sunday, April 22 3:00 p.m. Registration Merritt Commons, Main Street Hot Dog Supper Roxboro Baptist Everyone is invited to join us for the annual Crop Walk. This year the walk will begin at Merritt Commons and end at Roxboro Baptist for a Hot Dog Supper. We will be raising money as we help end hunger one step at a time. What are CROP Hunger Walks? Neighbors walking together to take a stand against hunger in our world. Hungry people in developing countries typically walk as much as six miles a day to get food, water and fuel, and to take their goods to market. We walk to be in solidarity with their struggle for existence. We walk because we want to end hunger one step at a time. FUNDS raised in a CROP HUNGER WALK assist people in need around the world. SEE ANY LONG MEMORIAL Youth if you would like to make a donation. MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE: LMUMC: CROP WALK. All youth participating are asked to bring a canned good for the Christian Help Center as well as a $10.00 donation. Don t forget to wear your walking shoes. See YOUth at 2:45. (We will meet at Long Memorial and walk up to Merritt Commons) LENTEN LUNCHEON SCHEDULE Wednesday March 7 Noon Roxboro Presbyterian Church Guest Church Harris Hall Wednesday March 14 Noon St. Marks s Episcopal Church Guest Church Harris Hall Wednesday March 21 Noon Long Memorial UMC Harris Hall Wednesday March 28 Noon First Baptist Church Guest Church Harris Hall

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