NOVEMBER 2017 The First Methogram Making Disciples for Jesus Christ through Love and Service! A Season of Saints God creates out of nothing. Wonderful you say. Yes, to be sure, but he does what is still more wonderful: He makes saints out of sinners. Soren Kierkegaard Dear Friends, As I sit down to write this message for the month of November, I find myself deeply grateful. God has been good, and I continue to be amazed at the many ways God is blessing us at FUMC Graham. Our Homecoming worship last month was a wonderful feast for both body and soul. I hope you had a chance to drop by the open house for our new Refuge Youth Ministry Commons room upstairs. At the beginning of this past year, we asked everyone in our congregation to take a step of faith as we increased our budget to expand our youth ministry and invest in our youth with a full-time director for this ministry. I believe God is blessing this effort and ask you to continue to pray for our growing ministries for children and youth. I am also excited about new things that are happening with our outreach to South Graham Elementary School. We are currently feeding close to 40 children a week and now have an entire mobile unit devoted to food distribution, school supplies, clothing, and our backpack ministry. I also recently had a planning meeting with our chaplain ministry team that goes each week to the Alamance County Detention Center. Did you know that this team currently sees 40+ inmates every month? If I had more room, I could tell you about our new Discovery Class (which we will now be offering twice a year), our continued ministry with the Exchange Club (addressing at-risk youth and their families), and numerous other efforts of individuals, Life Groups, UMW Circles, and Sunday School classes that seek to take seriously our ministry of reconciliation in this community. Thanks be to God! (If your group or class has an outreach ministry you would like us to lift up and celebrate, please e-mail me with details!) For the month of November, I want to invite you to join us for a new series we are calling A Season of Saints. In many of the epistles found in our New Testament, one often reads words like: To the saints who are in [Graham] and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1: 1). What does it mean to be a saint? How can we better live into this high and holy calling from Jesus? Here is a preview of what we will be doing in November: November 5 All Saints Sunday Clothing of the Saints (Revelation 7: 9-17) November 12 Stories of the Saints (Joshua 24: 1-3a, 14-25) November 19 Thanksgiving of the Saints (Deuteronomy 8: 7-18) November 26 Christ the King, Shepherd of the Saints (Ezekiel 34: 11-24) So to all the saints who are in Graham, Mebane, Burlington, Alamance County and beyond grace and peace to you all! One of the things we do as saints on a regular basis is worship, so I hope to see you in worship this November! Worshipping, Connecting, Serving, and Giving with you, Pastor Kevin FUMC-Graham 303 North Main Street Graham, NC 27253 336/226-4343 Pastor G. Kevin Baker NOVEMBER 2017 Every member a Minister Page 1
Worship Evangelism Message: God sent his messenger, a man named John, who came to tell people about the light, so that all should hear the message and believe. John 1:6-7(NIV) Our church will celebrate All Saints Sunday at both services on Sunday, November 5. All Saints is a day of remembrance for the saints, defined in the New Testament as all Christian people of every time and place. All Saints Day is a major feast day historically in the life of the church, and is significant as a day of remembering all those in the company of heaven with whom we always worship, especially around the Lord s Table. As is customary, we will recognize our saints during our Communion Service in the Prayer of Great Thanksgiving. Please plan to join us for this special worship service on November 5. Daylight Savings Time Ends Sunday, November 5! Be on time for church! Worship for Residents of Peak Resources with First Missionary Baptist Church FUMC Graham continues to find ways to partner with First Missionary Baptist, our sister church. Rev. Derrick Thorpe and Deacon Stanley Johnson have invited our congregation to join them in participating in and leading fourth Saturday services at 4pm for the residents of Peak. Upcoming services are November 25 and December 23 at 4pm. Contact Pastor Kevin with any questions. Pilgrimage 2017 Speakers Rachel Held-Evans and Sarah Heath November 10-12 For 23 years, Pilgrimage has been bringing 5000+ Youth (6th-12th grades) and their mentors to the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, NC for a life-changing weekend. This year, 21 youth and 8 adult chaperones from FUMC are planning to attend. Please be in prayer for our youth and their chaperones as they travel to Fayetteville for this inspiring spiritual event. Contact Paul (youth@fumcgraham-nc.org) with questions. Page 2 Every member a Minister NOVEMBER 2017
Connect In Our Thoughts and Prayers Penny Augustine Doug and Clara Bayliff Elvin and Anne Briggs Jane Bryan Ty Bunn Curtis Clapp Ella Jean Clapp Nancy Clark Jackie England ANNUAL UNITED METHODIST Alma Euliss MEN S PANCAKE AND SAUSAGE Michael Few SUPPER Pat Hall John Hancock Sunday, November 26 Betty Hardt 5pm (following Wesley Wares) until Brenda Hudson Stafford Hall Elizabeth King Donations gratefully accepted for the United Ellen Knox Methodist Men s Scholarship Fund Jeff Krummel Carolyn Lapham Please Check Your Mailbox! Are you aware that there are mailboxes for various groups in the church located across from Brian s office (Rm. 111)? Mail is delivered to one or more of these slots on an almost daily basis, but as you can see, not everyone is checking the boxes! Here is a list of the boxes we have. Should you be checking one of them? Salt and Light Ministry Communications Committee United Methodist Men Evangelism Worship Committee Young In Heart Missions United Methodist Women Thursday Prayer Breakfast Sunday School NOVEMBER 2017 Meeting 10:30am Tuesday, Nov. 7 T. J. Whitehead room Adult Game Day 1-4pm Wednesday, Nov. 15 Stafford Hall Chris Martin Betty May Pam McDonald Worth McPherson Nell Mooney Revonda Barnwell Mosher Donna Peterson Frances Price Rev. Dennis Ricks Mary Jane Salter John Schweitzer Mike Smith Susan Stapleton Janice Stutts Virginia Sykes Clyde and Marie Ward Max Way Vivian Williamson Sue Willson Young In Heart Join us! Bring a favorite snack and a friend! Do you have our online directory on your mobile device? Download Instant Church Directory from itunes or the Google Play Store. (See icon at left white church on lime-green background.) Then, all you have to do is to enter your e-mail address as it is listed in the directory. You will be e-mailed a one-time password to verify your identity. Once you insert that password into the app, you re all set. While you are there, check your own entry, and make sure we have correct information and an updated picture. If you need to update anything or have any trouble, send an e-mail to directory@fumcgraham-nc.org. Every member a Minister Page 3
November Birthdays NOVEMBeR EVENTS 11.4 Sat. 10-11am 11.5 Sun. 10am- 1pm Potato Scrubbing Church Kitchen Baked Potato and Salad Luncheon Fundraiser 11.5 Sun. 5- REFUGE Regular Meeting 11.10-11.12 Fri.- Sun. Pilgrimage 2017 Crown Complex, Fayetteville (See article on p. 2) 11.12 Sun. NO REFUGE Meeting 11.19 Sun. 5- REFUGE Regular Meeting 11.26 Sun. 3-5pm Youth assist with Wesley Wares Join the youth for their annual BAKED POTATO AND SALAD LUNCHEON after the Traditional Worship Service on Sunday, November 5. Take-out will be available after Sunday School (~10:45am). Donations are greatly appreciated. All proceeds will be going to help support our trip to Pilgrimage 2017 in Fayetteville, NC. 11.1 Gladys Harrison 11.2 Brian Yoder 11.3 Gene Caudill 11.3 Darren McLeod 11.4 Spencer Huffines 11.4 Parker Nash 11.4 Brandon Snotherly 11.4 David Wyatt 11.4 McKinley Lax 11.4 Tyler Durham 11.5 Peggy Jenks 11.6 Carol Wilkes 11.6 Carolyn Streszoff 11.7 Lyle Williams 11.8 Allison Brown 11.8 Judy May 11.9 Wade Taylor 11.9 Carlie Wyatt 11.9 Clay Hill 11.10 Ross Barbee 11.10 Kelly Linens 11.11 David Sykes 11.12 Irene Martin 11.12 Logan Jones 11.12 Carol Steele 11.12 Susan Bell 11.13 Chad Ferrell 11.13 Jeremy Koon 11.14 Phyllis Linens 11.15 Evan Morris 11.15 Matthew Yoder 11.16 Mark Hurt 11.16 Max Way 11.16 John Spurrier 11.18 Caleb Barbee 11.19 Jo Brantley 11.19 LeeAnn Brumble 11.19 Maggie Campbell 11.20 Conner Fogleman 11.20 Linda Hardt 11.21 Tommy Satterfield 11.22 Betty May 11.22 Eddie Wilkes 11.23 Lydia Ricks 11.23 Carol Cameron 11.24 Jay Ferrell 11.25 Frank Simons 11.25 Jan Vass 11.25 Maxwell Way 11.25 Barbie Rhew 11.25 Dana Hill 11.26 Zoey Jordan 11.27 Andrew Crissman 11.27 Ray Moore 11.27 Daniel Lee 11.27 Jonah Whitney 11.27 Harley Grafton 11.27 Eliza Staton 11.28 Julie Barbee 11.28 Pam McDonald 11.29 Rachel Baker 11.30 Jacob Brown Please contact the church office with changes and additions (336/226-4343). KIDS ON A MISSION: Our next mission for children in 1st-5th grade is on Sun., November 19 from 4-5pm. We will make Thanksgiving baskets for families in need. We will meet in Stafford Hall, travel to a local grocery store to shop, and then return to church to assemble baskets and make cards. Please have your child bring a permission form and $5. Contact Brian Yoder (brian@fumcgraham-nc.org) with questions. Have you liked our Facebook page yet? Check us out on Facebook for our annual 30 Days of Gratitude during the month of November. Each day, you will be invited to connect and share with others something inspiring whether it be something you are thankful for in your life or something wonderful you want to lift up in praise. We would love lots of replies each day of the month to remind us all to stop and be thankful for the little things we tend to overlook each day. Find our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/firstumcgraham/ or enter First United Methodist Church, Graham, NC in the search box at the top of a page. Page 4 Every member a Minister NOVEMBER 2017
Serve Wesley Wares Sunday, November 26, 2017 3:30-5pm Wesley Wares will be happening soon, and we need your help. Following are some of the ways that you can help: 1. Donate gifts and crafts (only new items, please) 2. Help assemble gifts 3. Help man the store or wrap gifts on November 26 4. Help clean up after the sale If you would like to volunteer, please see Susan Rayle, Doris Sugg, or Kay Ferguson. Please bring your gifts and crafts and place them on the table outside Room 114. This room is located across from the office. Please clearly mark Wesley Wares on these items. We would like to have all gifts by November 21. If you would like to purchase items for the sale, please see the bulletin board beside the library. Take a sticky note or notes, purchase the items, and leave them on the table beside Room 114. We already know that we need 7 9 and 13 17 Christmas gift bags, Christmas tissue paper, candy canes, and individually wrapped Christmas candy. Parents will be e-mailed shopping lists. Please carefully fill out these forms and bring them with you when you bring your child/children to shop. If you need a printed copy, you can find one on the table beside Mr. Brian s office (Rm. 111). This children s mission project has become a treasured tradition at FUMC. Remember, all children up through fifth grade may come and shop. It takes many hands to make the project happen, so please consider helping in any way you can. Monetary donations are always welcome. Make checks payable to FUMC, and write Wesley Wares on the memo line. Thank you for helping to make this project successful. Remember Every cent raised is used for children s missions. Congratulations to FUMC UMW! Our unit received recognition for the following at the NC Conference UMW Annual Meeting October 7 at Methodist University in Fayetteville: 31 members read the recommended conference book Just Like I Wanted. (Corridor District had the most readers in the Conference.) FUMC had 9 members who read books on the UMW Reading Program (Corridor District received the Conference Reading Banner for most readers in the Conference.) Corridor District contributed almost 1/3 of the total amount for the conference during the Candleburning campaign. ($10,234 out of $36,350.53). The Corridor District had 35 seven-star units in 2016. This represents giving in 7 mission areas. FUMC is a seven-star unit and has 3 seven-star members. FUMC was recognized as a Mission Today unit. Good Job! NOVEMBER 2017 Every member a Minister Page 5
Give UMW Mission Focuses for November Women s Crisis Center and Women s Shelter Homeless Shelter Needs: Needs: 1. Toilet paper 1. Warm gloves 2. Blankets 2. Paper towels 3. Thick socks 3. Individually wrapped snacks 4. Feminine products Give donations directly to Jeanne Owen or bring to church office (Rm. 113) IN MEMORY OF James Cameron by Peggy Jenks Ron Peterson by Gene and Elaine Caudill Ron Peterson by Doris Sugg Ron Peterson by Elizabeth Sutton Ron Peterson by Raymond & Frances Heath Ron Peterson by Victor and Janis Cloyd Ron Peterson by Sherrie Moore Ron Peterson by Jim and Cheryl Boggs Ron Peterson by Julia Howard Give Thanks, Feed Children. OCTOBER 2017 IN MEMORY OF Ron Peterson by Ed and Carolyn Barnes Ron Peterson by Don and Dot Lee Phyllis May by Bob and Harriett Wisse IN HONOR OF My 97th birthday by Alma Euliss Louise Collins by Sherrie Moore Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks to God and to share Christ s love with our neighbors. This season offers opportunities to demonstrate kindness and generosity to those in need. This year, we invite you to join us in a Snack Drive for South Graham Elementary School. Why snacks? C4C focuses on ways to meet basic student needs and to improve K-3 literacy. Due to limited cafeteria size at South Graham, 14 classrooms at the school have lunch as early as 10:15am or as late as 1:15pm, leaving a long timespan between breakfast and lunch or between lunch and dismissal. Many of these classrooms include younger students (K-1). Students get hungry and lose focus without a snack time built into the school day. There are large numbers of children who are unable to bring snacks from home. Teachers are often forced to buy snacks for these children, placing a strain on their personal budgets. We are currently assisting with snacks in 8 classrooms, feeding many children each day at a cost of $200 per month. WE NEED YOUR HELP! During the month of November, please bring individually wrapped or bulk item snacks and place them in the South Graham bins in the sanctuary breezeway or the coffeeshop. Snack suggestions include granola bars, fruit snacks, cheese crackers, pretzels, animal crackers, graham cracker snacks, or goldfish. No nuts or peanut butter, please. We have been blessed so that we might be a blessing to others! We give thanks to God for the generous hearts of FUMCG! Your C4C Team C4C.FUMCG@SouthGraham making a difference for kids in our community! Page 6 Every member a Minister NOVEMBER 2017
FUMC United Methodist Women Fundraiser for Missions at Smithfield s Chicken n Bar-B-Q (Mebane location only) Please come out to eat delicious Smithfield s Bar-B-Q or chicken between the hours of 6-8pm (no earlier, no later) on Monday, November 13. The United Methodist Women of First United Methodist Church will receive a percentage of sales between those hours. Our women will also be serving you by bringing your food and drinks to your table. Please leave a generous tip in the tip jars provided! Something new this year: You MUST turn in an official flier at the time of your order for your purchase price to be counted toward our profits. A copy of this flier will be available in the Sunday bulletins on November 5 and 12. There will also be a link in the E-News on November 2 and 9 so that you can print your own. Additional copies will be in the coffeeshop (Rm. 135), the sanctuary breezeway (Rm. 100), and the church office (Rm. 113). Remember: All monies raised will go toward missions for women, children and youth locally and around the world. November 18 9am-3pm Featuring handmade items by Crafters and Artisans Plus Church Bake Sale Lunch served 11:30am-1:30pm Homemade soup, grilled cheese sandwich, beverage, dessert $6 My Church Family, Thank you for all the prayers, cards, visits, and well wishes through my knee replacement surgery and recuperation. I love my church family, and you ve made it easier for me to get through this. Thank you, Cindy Sharpe Dear Pastor Baker, I would like to sincerely thank your congregation for the recent very generous gifts... for the Andean Rural Healthcare Program in Bolivia through the Advance Special. This increased support over previous years fuels our enthusiasm and commitment. According to our records, Graham FUMC began supporting us in 1999, eighteen years ago!... Once again, thank you for being strong partners in our mission. Fraternally yours, Ramiro Llanque, MD, MPH Executive Director NOVEMBER 2017 Every member a Minister Page 7
The First Methogram (USPS 715-740) Periodicals Postage Paid at Published Monthly by Graham, North Carolina 27253 First United Methodist Church 303 N. Main Street Postmaster: Send Address Changes to: Graham, North Carolina 27253 The First Methogram 303 N. Main Street Graham, North Carolina 27253 WE THANK GOD FOR: Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 5 Daylight Savings Time Ends 7am Men s Breakfast 10am and 12noon Baked Potato lunch 12:30pm Faith Journeys Bow-Making 5pm First Place 5pm Youth 12 Meet and Greet 4:30pm Charge Conference 5pm First Place Pilgrimage 2017 19 2pm Festival of Carols rehearsal 4pm Kids on a Mission 5pm First Place 5pm Youth 26 3pm Wesley Wares 5pm Pancake Supper 6 10am Circle 2 2pm Circle 1 2pm Circle 3 7pm Friendship Circle 13 6pm Smithfield s BBQ Fundraiser 7 10:30am Young In Heart 5:30pm Exchange Club Project 7pm Crochet 7pm Boy Scouts 7pm Cub Scouts 14 5:30pm Exchange Club Project 7pm Board of Directors 7pm Finance Com. 7pm Crochet 7pm Boy Scouts 7pm Cub Scouts 20 21 5:30pm Exchange Club Project 7pm Crochet 7pm Boy Scouts 7pm Cub Scouts 27 Missions Committee SUNDAY SCHEDULE: The Well Service 9am, Sunday School: 10am, Traditional Worship Service: 11am 28 4:30pm Exchange Club Project 7pm Crochet 7pm Boy Scouts 7pm Cub Scouts 1 Handbells 7pm Discovery Session 6 7:30pm Choir 8 9:30am Library Ministry Team Handbells 7:30pm Choir 15 1pm Young In Heart Fun Day Handbells 7:30pm Choir 2 8:15am Thurs. Prayer Breakfast Girl Scouts 7pm Praise Team 9 8:15am Thurs. Prayer Breakfast Girl Scouts 7pm Praise Team 16 8:15am Thurs. Prayer Breakfast Girl Scouts 7pm Praise Team 22 23 Thanksgiving Day 29 Handbells 7:30pm Choir 30 8:15am Thurs. Prayer Breakfast Girl Scouts 7pm Praise Team 3 4 10am REFUGE Youth Potato- Scrubbing Event 10 11 Veterans Day Pilgrimage 2017 17 18 9am UMW Bazaar 9am UMW Corridor District Local Officer Training 24 25 4pm Peak Worship Page 8 Every member a Minister NOVEMBER 2017