TABERNACLE U.M.C. Pastor John. OUT OF THE WOODS My Train of Thought Fell Off the Track. July 2016

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1 TABERNACLE U.M.C. Tabernacle United Methodist Church 5721 Methodist Road Greensboro, NC Telephone: (336) July 2016 OUT OF THE WOODS My Train of Thought Fell Off the Track It s embarrassing to admit, but this actually happened to me last week. It had been kind of a long day at the tail-end of a long week. While driving to a late-afternoon meeting, I just kind of clicked my mind off while going through the familiar routes to get to where I was headed. I was on auto-pilot and just zoning. It wasn t until 3 bocks after I d missed my turn that I realized I d messed up. It was an easy fix and I m glad no one was with me to see what I d done, but I was reminded once again that not staying focused is not good and potentially trouble. My little episode also reminded me of a story I d heard about another minister who like me, clicked onto autopilot. The result was much more embarrassing. Robb Robinson, a former Tennessee state senator and funeral director, tells about one minister who after officiating at a funeral, took the locally customary lead-car position in the procession to the cemetery. It was during the Christmas season, and the pastor became preoccupied with thoughts of the gifts he needed to purchase after the graveside services. As he drew near to the cemetery, he looked left and saw the K-Mart store conveniently located across the street. Obviously lost in thought, he turned left into the K-Mart parking lot instead of continuing on to the cemetery. As he drove through the parking lot looking for a parking space, he happened to look into his rearview mirror, and he saw a string of cars following, all with their lights on! How easy it is for us to just go through the motions without any thought or intentionality to what we re doing. It occurs to me that one of the reasons there are so many practical exhortations in the Bible is because God knows that it s easy to put our life on cruise-control (so to speak). As it was in the beginning, is now, and forever shall be is great for God, but not so great for us...especially when it comes to embodying our faith as followers of Jesus. In 2 Thessalonians, we are urged, But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. This is a good word to keep in mind when it comes to using our words to encourage others, because my autopilot is usually not to do that. It s a good word to hear when it comes to our giving, our stewardship, and working on our relationships in our families, which also tend to run on cruise-control. It s a good word when it comes to our willingness step out in ministry in new directions. I wonder if there s some area in your life that you ve just kind of put on cruise control? It might be OK for a period of season, but like me, eventually it ll take you places you don t intend to go. As Paul says in one of my favorite passages: Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet, but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Phil. 3:12 Grace and Peace! Pastor John

2 Tabernacle U.M.C. Newsletter July 2016 A REPORT ON THIS YEAR S ANNUAL CONFERENCE Bishop Goodpaster presides over 2016 Western NC Annual Conference (Our Western NC Annual Conference is the geographic governing body for all United Methodist Churches in the western half of NC. Our Bishop is the Bishop Larry Goodpaster (and yes, he really IS a good pastor!). The 2016 Western NC Annual Conference meeting (at Lake Junaluska, NC) has come and gone, leaving an upbeat attitude and changes for the future. Our theme for this year was Go Light Your World reflecting on God s call for us to go out into our communities carrying the lifegiving, hope-inducing gospel of Jesus Christ. We were reminded in many ways that we have been given a light and Jesus expectation is that we would shine our light and not hide it. In this his final year as our bishop (he is retiring August 31), Bishop Goodpaster not only led us through routine legislation, but also continued to push his strong call for us to not let anything hinder us from our central purpose of making disciples of Jesus Christ. Once again, worship took center stage. Inspirational worship & powerful preaching converged to make this year s conference one of the best in recent memory! OTHER CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS: Reappointed Pastor John and Pastor Justin to be our pastors for this next year at Tabernacle. [Woo-hoo!] Approved a budget for 2017 in the amount of $16,404,655 which is a 0.07% decrease over the 2016 budget. This includes a new $250,000 line for increasing our Missional/New church start efforts, which are so fruitful. Heard our delegations report from General Conference met the new CEO of The Children s Home (in Winston-Salem) and had a celebration of Bishop Goodpaster s 8 years of ministry here in Western NC and his 42 years as a UM minister. A Prayer for Summer Vacations Lord, you made us so that we need times for rest and renewal. And you ve given us a model of the Sabbath, where even You rested from your labors. We pray that our plans for leisure and time away may fulfill your purposes in us. Thank you for this chance to enjoy the glories of your creation; the sea and sky and land. We ask that your care and protection will be with us as we travel. Encourage us as we rest from our routine. Nourish our souls us as we recount the purpose of our lives and the greater design of your Kingdom. Bless us, Holy Lord and quench our spirits with the Living Water of your refreshing presence! Amen. The bishop recognized 35 retiring ministers who collectively rendered 955 years of ministry, ordained 20 elders and 7 deacons in full connection. In addition, he commissioned another 14 provisional elders. Many thanks to Linda Bigham & Richard Baker who were TUMC s delegates to annual conference this year, and who represented our congregation with enthusiasm and a joyful spirit. If you see them around sometime, stop and thank them for representing us so ably! A complete report of this year s conference can be found on our conference web-site (

3 Tabernacle U.M.C. Newsletter July 2016 Fate of the revolutionaries We call them heroes. The British called them traitors. Many of them turned out to be martyrs. Here is what happened to some of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence: Five were captured and tortured as traitors. Nine joined the revolutionary army, fought and died. Eight men had property looted by the British army or by vandals. One signer s home was taken over by a British general. The owner, Thomas Nelson, Jr., asked General Washington to burn the home down. The general did. The home of Francis Lewis was destroyed and his wife put in jail. She died shortly thereafter. Three men had their fields and mills destroyed. In one way or another, all of the men paid a dear price as a result of their rebellion. Still they were faithful to the pledge they made on July 4, 1776: Join the CIRCLE OF 10 Club! We have so many new people visiting our church every Sunday that it s easy to forget that being a friendly congregation means intentionally introducing yourself to those around you. The Circle of 10 Club is simply a commitment to greet every person sitting within 10 feet of you in the sanctuary on Sundays. We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States... And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. Our Honduras Mission Team, which travels from July 7-July 14, would like to thank everyone for your support and help in allowing us to serve in Honduras this summer. We ask for your prayers during our trip for our team and all of those we will be serving with and all the relationships that are made so that we may represent the love of Christ. Starbucks!! Come and join Justin for coffee and fellowship at Starbucks, Thursday, July 21st, at 10 am! Movies Under the Stars!! Sunday, July 24th, 8:30 pm, Tabernacle Ballfield Come out with your families and friends and join us for a night of fellowship under the stars with a movie and bonfire. The youth welcome all families to come and join us. The Adult Fellowship Group will be traveling to the Shallowford Popcorn Farm in Yadkinville on Thursday July 28th. Here we will see the popcorn process from field to finish, and we'll get to sample and purchase over 20 gourmet flavors. We will dine at the Old Stage Grill in Yadkinville. Our bus will leave Tabernacle at 9:00 am. If there are questions, call Gaynell Faulk at or Patsy Phillips at

4 Tabernacle U.M.C. July 2016 Friday, July 8 7:30 pm TUMC Men 9:00 pm TUMC Women Saturday, July 9 5:00 pm TUMC Men 7:30 pm TUMC Women Register online at: cycling/races/skeeter-bike-ride-to-end-malaria-2016?int= Friday, July 15 7:00 pm TUMC Women Saturday, July 16 3:00 pm TUMC Men 4:30 pm TUMC Women 6:00 pm TUMC Men 7:30 pm TUMC Women Helping in Worship July 3 July 10 July 17 July 24 July 31 Greeters Sunshine Circle Sunshine Circle Sunshine Circle Sunshine Circle Sunshine Circle Offering Counters Pete Stephens Pete Stephens Pete Stephens Pete Stephens Pete Stephens CD Delivery Betty Varner Fran Griffin June Sofley Betty Marley Anne Lambert Sound Richard Dunn Pete Cox Andy Griffin Brian Williamson Brandon Burke Children s Church Glenda Stout Diana Hairr Traci Skipper Rebecca Stewart Heidi Brown Erin Burke Michelle Newman Cindy Baker Sarah Thomas Heather Koonts Nursery Anita Dyer Michelle Griffin Fran Griffin Katie Keating Diana Hairr Glenda Stout Lisa Kiger Heidi Bradley Acolytes Anna Skipper Bailey Dunn Tanner & Justin Greeson Hannah Woods Abbey Stewart Charlotte Stewart Logan Ehrhardt Olivia Callaway Marielle Ely

5 Tabernacle Week Day July Summer Camp 2016 July Birthdays Children Neve Pendleton Kinsley Tuckett We are having a wonderful summer with our school age children. They are going to the movies, out to lunch, Hagan Stone Park, swimming, the Library, All a Flutter Butterfly Farm, and we are enjoying summer We will enjoy listening games. We are reading an exciting chapter book The Ark, the Reed, & the Fire Cloud. We will also have special snacks, crafts, activities, prayer, and chapel time Psalm 150:4 Praise God with drums and dancing; praise God with harps and flutes. Abby Coble Hunter Hall Avan Griffin Staff Connie Fuhrman Sandra Gordon fun activities. Our Bible Lessons are a from Noah s Park curriculum. We will learn about the Holy Spirit and trusting God. We will learn about God s power and love. We will discover many things about worship, learn Bible truths and verses to with Pastor John. We give thanks and praise to God and a big thank you to Tabernacle Church. This is a great place to learn about and experience God s love. Mandi Wolfe help us to be more like Christ. Preschool Summer Fun The Preschoolers will be included in all the summer fun and summer activities. They will study about the birthday of our country and the colors of the flag and that God loves each person in every country of the world. They will talk about the season summer and that we play outside in God s wonderful world and take vacations with our families. All our children will learn to relax. explore, and find special ways to enjoy God s world during this beautiful summer season.

6 07/01 Harold Blake, Terry Bradley, Betty Marley, Joe Stafford, Hannah Woods 07/02 Grace Callaway, Julie Tolle, Harold Blake, Lavon Helms, Heidi Merrill, Graham Yates 07/03 Bob Zane, Zane Garris, Greg Gonet 07/04 Everett Rankin, Trenton Keating, Jerry McCraw 07/05 Greg Robertson, Kaylee Keating, Ronald Horney, Jack Patterson, Betty Watts 07/06 Carolyn Capps, Frankie Dalton, Rusty Griffin, Raymond Jobe, Dara Mobley 07/07 Charlie Johnson, Mitchell Winfree 07/08 Ken Gray, Kevin Lambe 07/09 Robert Lowder, Joyce Sosnowski 07/10 Joe Brotherton 07/11 Tom Barnhill, Peggy Christenbury, Jessica Jennings 07/12 Elizabeth Hendricks, Betty Cole, Larry Daffron, Katye Fields, Sandra Goins 07/13 Parks Fields, Chase Salisbury 07/14 Margaret Highfill 07/15 Christian Kennedy, Miller Kraft, Frances Whitt 07/16 Kara Lee Rebertus, LeAnn Love, Sarah Scheening 07/17 Erin Burke, Sarah Little 07/18 Barbara Dyar, Jenna Ely, Sloan Barber, Jimmy Jarrett, Dennis Kyker 07/19 Ron Horney, Jane Fulghum 07/20 Kim Jackson, Mike Merrill, Nathan Koonts 07/21 Kirsten Holt, Wright Horne 07/22 Cliff Holder, Michelle Allison 07/23 Melinda Penry, Richard Smith, Larry Thompson, Brittany Younts 07/24 Taylor Pratt, Iris Brothers 07/25 Cathy Early, Gayle Cox 07/26 Bill Oman, Howard Fields, Kimberly Cripps, Carol Dyson 07/27 Don Phillips, John Bradley, Brenda Payne 07/28 Nikole Covington, Ronald Hinson, Linda Pettit, Elizabeth Roberts 07/29 Bob Hancock, Fred Greeson, Seth Hemphill, McKayla Jones, Alexis Powell, Kenneth Whitfield 07/30 Edna Causey 07/31 Ken Harris, Ingrid Scott 7/02 Carol and John Dyson 7/03 Edd and Linda Bigham 7/07 John and Morgan Stafford 7/09 Danny and Debbie Murray 7/10 Brenda and Johnny Reynolds 7/12 Ronald and Rebecca Shaffer 7/19 Tim and Marie Meyer 7/23 Richard and Ruth Winquist 7/24 Leon and Carolyn Toole 7/25 Mandy and Pete Cox 7/29 Jeff and Tena Jensen 7/31 Dana and Matt Cowley 7/14 Tony and Valerie Routh

7 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Tabernacle UMC July :45 am Early Worship - Chapel 11:00 am Traditional Worship - Sanctuary 4 Fourth of July- Daycare & Office Closed am Bethany Circle No Choir am Fellowship Circle PG Town hall picnic shelter Youth Mission Trip :00 am Traditional Worship - Sanctuary No Choir 5:30 pm L. Roach Wedding Rehearsal 4:00 pm L. Roach Wedding 17 8:45 am Early Worship - Chapel 11:00 am Traditional Worship - Sanctuary 7pm Church Council Youth Mission Trip am Stephens Ministry (parlor) 7 pm Worship Committee 3pm-9pm Fellowship Hall in use 7 pm Trustees 20 No Choir am Homebound Committee-library 31 11:00 am Traditional Worship - Sanctuary 11:00 am Traditional Worship - Sanctuary 12:30 pm Garrett Reunion 25 7:15 pm Missions No Choir 28 10:30 am Adult Fellowship Trip August 21st - UMW General Meeting Back to Please begin collecting school supplies to be donated to our 5 local schools. We will collect all items donated during our general meeting. A collection box will be in the commons. See Linda Bigham for more info.

8 Tabernacle U.M.C. Newsletter July 2016 ONGOING PRAYER CONCERNS Carolyn Allred, Ed Barber, Audrey Berrier, Harold Bowman, Ashley Brown, Gail Causey, April Chance, Julie Christopher, Shirley Christopher, Mary Claiborne, Helen Coe, Geraldine Crenshaw, Susan Cumbey (Sally Vick), Ronnie Debnam, Lauren Doyle, Robert Dunlap, Cathy Duran, Cathy Early, Joyce Ensley, Sue Field, Kay Garrett, JoAnn Gordon, Sandra Greeson, Lynn Hale, Virginia Hooper, Melinda Housh (Faye Holt), Renie Ledwell-Jefferson, Larry Lackey, Martha Love, Debra McKinney, Allene Monnett, Larry Nordan, Jean Penry, Victor Seaman, Guy Sheets, Glenda Stout, Rebecca Shaffer, Ron Straughan, Richie Winquist OUR SUPPORTED MISSIONARIES: John Calhoun (Kiev), Sandra Raasch (Honduras), Kenya Partners, Gary Locklear (North Carolina), Alger and Joyce Morris (Cambodia), Joel Taylor (Cuba) OUR MILITARY: Luke Rebertus, Jason Caesar Wolff, Joel Woods, Conner Worthington OUR SHUT INS: Irene Blake, Bill & Cathy Early (Abbottswood, Apt B315), Nancy & Lee Fisher (Abbottswood, Apt. C 306), Meralyn Meadows (The Laurels), Ann Padgett ( Siler City), Julia Sosnowski (Morningview), Frances Whitt Ministers: The Tabernacle Congregation Pastor: Rev. John Woods (cell: ) Pastor: Rev. Justin Cabe (cell: ) Church Office: Daycare: Website: Rev. John Woods (Pastor) jwoods@tabernacle-umc.org Rev. Justin Cabe (Pastor) jcabe@tabernacle-umc.org Kimberly Cripps (Children s Ministries) kcripps@tabernacle-umc.org Carla Ely (Music Ministries) cely@tabernacle-umc.org Richard Dunn II (Worship Leader) richardldunn@me.com Antonela Frashëri (Pianist) afrasheri@tabernacle-umc.org Joyce Sosnowski (Finances) jsosnowski@tabernacle-umc.org Caretta Brown (Office) tabernacle@tabernacle-umc.org NEWSLETTER/ BULLETIN DEADLINE: The deadline for the Friday Newsletter (prayer list, announcements, etc.) is the prior Tuesday at 8 am. The deadline for the weekly bulletin is Wednesday at 8 am. The deadline for the monthly newsletter is the 15th of the month prior to the month of the newsletter. Please use date request forms for upcoming events/meetings. This will help to ensure all details are clear and no conflicts in dates. Please contact Caretta Brown in the church office at or tabernacle@tabernacle-umc.org Allen Haywood (Maintenance) ahaywood@tabernacle-umc.org