VOLUME 47 ISSUE 1 JANUARY 2019 THE INFORMER NEWSLETTER OF UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Minister: Phyllis Coates / revpkc@bellsouth.net / 336.508.0291 Micah 5:2-5 Tyrants have always played a ruthless game. The game is this: if I kill all my enemies, the only ones left on earth will be my friends. This is called genocide. This was Hitler s thinking. When the Shiites thought to eliminate the Sunni in Iraq, this was their thinking. The writer of this passage speaks of a time when the house of David will once again bring forth a great ruler. This shepherd will care for the people, and they shall live in peace and security. The promise of a new ruler to come from the town of Bethlehem is very familiar to all Christians and is often cited during the Advent and Christmas seasons. Micah reminds us that God is just doing his constant biblical task of saving the world. God did it with one small nation called Israel and one small backwater town named Bethlehem. Inside This Issue: Pastor s Epistle......Cover Mission/Outreach......2 Nurture...3 Youth/Children..4 Monthly Calendar.....7 The present remains a time of suffering, and it may get worse before relief comes, but the people should not lose heart. The movement is from suffering to salvation, from defeat to victory. Here is a worthy champion of the poor who has courage and power to deliver an effective message. Micah 5: 2-5a (NRSV) 2 But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. 3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; 5 and he shall be the one of peace. If the Assyrians come into our land and tread upon our soil, we will raise against them seven shepherds and eight installed as rulers. Shared by Rev. Dr. Craven Williams Triad Native American Church WEBSITE: www.stjohnsumcgso.com E-MAILS: stjohnsumcgso@gmail.com revpkc@bellsouth.net
2 The Informer Volume 47 Issue 1 MISSIONS/OUTREACH The people at St. John s have always been supportive of Mission Outreach to those in need. There are several ongoing activities and some seasonal ones. The Mission Committee invites you to participate, as you feel lead to do so. If you need additional information for any project, you may contact Cheryl Clark or Carol Humble. THANK YOU for your support this past year and we look forward to a great 2019. Mission 100 Mission 100 is a project that was started a number of years ago. You are invited to make a donation to help others. Each quarter of the year, a specific project is highlighted to receive the funds. You may mark Mission 100 on your offering envelope or just list the donation amount under benevolences. Donations for the first quarter (Jan. March) will go to SHARE THE WARMTH program to help those in need with power bills during the winter months. Feed the Homeless The second Thursday of the month, St. John s provides a meal for the homeless staying at Weaver House at Greensboro Urban Ministry. Your help is needed in 2 ways. You may donate money to purchase food and/or you are invited to go and serve the meal. If you can help serve on Thursday, January 10 at 6:00, sign up on the board in the Narthex on Sunday, January 6. This is a great opportunity to share food and God s Love with others. God s Helping Hand Food Pantry Bring a bag or two of non-perishable food items to share with others and place them in the large box in the Narthex. These items are shared with those who come to the food pantry located at Groometown United Methodist Church. You may bring items at any time, but we especially encourage you to bring them the 1 st Sunday each month. You may also contribute money to this project; just mark Food Pantry on your offering envelope. Report of Advent Projects Through your generous spirit, you touched many lives this Christmas Season. The following information shows contributions as of Sunday, December 16. *Donations to the Heifer Project were $560. *Over $500 was raised for Greensboro Urban Ministry from the GUM Honor Cards *Gift cards (total value of $1,080) were shared with families at Hunter School. Thanks to all members, Sunday School Classes and UMW circles who donated to these projects.
The Informer Volume 47 Issue 1 3 NURTURE Next Meeting Tuesday January 8 at 11:30 am Please join us in January for our next meeting. All are invited to attend. Financial News Update For November, income was $16,157 which included over $4,000 from the Anniversary offerings. Thankfully, expenses were only $16,651. For 2018 we have spent $5,500 more than we have received. Please continue to support our outreach ministries. Note of Thanks... To My Friends at St. John s UMC. Thank you all so much for the beautiful cards, the phone calls, and all the prayers during my recent surgery. You have no idea how much this means to me. I love each and everyone of you and hope to be back at church soon. Love in Christ, Bitsy Leadership Equipping Seminars The WNCC Northern Piedmont District is pleased to offer Equipping Seminars for pastors and your local church officers who serve in these ministry areas: Pastor/Staff Parish Relations Finance Archives & History Church Council Youth Ministry Trustees These Equipping Seminars will be offered three times, in three different locations: January 13, 2019 from 3:00 to 5:00pm at Mount Carmel (Reidsville) January 27, 2019 from 3:00 to 5:00pm at Christ (Greensboro) February 10, 2019 from 3:00 to 5:00pm at Christ (High Point) An email was sent to all Administrative Board Members with this information and the link to register. Please see your email for more information or to sign up. Like Us On FACEBOOK
4 The Informer Volume 47 Issue 1 YOUTH, YOUNG ADULT & CHILDREN NEWS! It's 2019 and a new year has started! I can't believe it. This year will have so many new beginnings for so many of us but I'm not sure we can talk about those!! Jared, Lauren and Grace will be heading off to College in August and we will learn to adjust with 5 of our youth in college but they are doing a great job teaching the younger youth the ropes so they can fill in while they are gone. We are looking forward to great things in 2019! We wanted to say another thank you to everyone involved with the Christmas Program. It wasn't on the day we expected but thanks to everyone staying flexible we were able to finally get to perform the Journey to the Stable. This was something a little different this year and we hope everyone enjoyed it! It was truly a production of love and full of God's touches! The youth are getting together for our annual Christmas gathering in the first of January and will also start planning some of our yearlong activities so stay tuned for what is going to be coming up for us! There is sure to be Chili Cook-off soon and a salad lunch this spring and then a themed dinner in the summer. But more details to come so stay tuned. 2019 is going to be another great year as always for this group and we look forward to sharing it with our church family!
The Informer Volume 47 Issue 1 5 UMW NEWS Happy New Year! We had a wonderful 2018. And look forward to a great 2019. Missions and projects are in our plans. Circle of Hope (#1) will meet at the church Monday, January 7 at 10:00 am. Circle of Faith (#2) will meet Tuesday, January 8 at 10:00 am. Circle of Love (#3) will meet Monday, January 7 at 7:00 pm. Please remember to advise Gwen of your monthly meetings and other dates so she can put on church calendar. Please let me know your officers and changes in membership for the UMW Handbook. We will leave shut-ins and students as they are now. The December Gathering had to be postponed because of snow, snow, and more snow! But we enjoyed the devotion and fellowship of the Christmas season. Circles shared with shut ins and students at Hunter School. There will not be a January Gathering. The Executive Committee will meet Mon., Jan. 14 at 7:00 in the Fellowship Hall. Let Carol Humble know of suggestions for programs, mission projects or fund-raising for the new year. Let me know if you have suggestions for a speaker for Women s Day. Officers, please plan to attend. Thanks for all you do to make this a caring UMW. Circle #2 has UM Men s dinner Jan. 31, 2019. For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 (RSV) Every day this year we want to seek Your plan. Help us to find it. Amen. Becky Smith, President Church Website: www.stjohnsumcgso.com
1. The Informer Volume 47 Issue 1 7 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Church Office Closed 2 3 4 5 6 9:30 am Sunday School Assembly-Hovis 7 10 am Circle of Hope 8 10 am Circle of Faith (S) 11:30 am PrimeTimers 9 10 11 Worship til 9 pm 12 11:30 am Ellison (CC) til 1:30 pm 13 9:45 am Sunday School 7 pm Circle of Love (WC) 14 15 Newsletter Deadline 16 6 pm Weaver House 17 7:00 pm Girl Scouts (CSS) 18 Worship til 9 pm 19 10:30 am Sisters Bible Study (S) 20 9:45 am Sunday School 7 pm UMW Exec. Mtg (S) 21 6:30 pm Administrative Board (S) 22 23 24 25 Worship til 9 pm 26 27 9:45 am Sunday School 6:30 pm Hunter Hills CW 28 6:30 pm Worship Meeting (S) 29 30 31 6:30 pm UMM Mtg 7 pm Girl Scouts (CSS) USHERS FOR JANUARY Daniel Humble, Lead Bob Kesslick John Harper Andrea Humble Karen Harper Worship til 9 pm ACOYLYTES FOR JANUARY Grace Harper Rachel Easter
The Informer Volume 47 Issue 1 8 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID GREENSBORO, NC 27407 PERMIT NO. 125 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED St. John s United Methodist Church 1304 Merritt Drive Greensboro, NC 27407 (336) 299-3866 / (336) 508-0291 (pastor) Our Church Office Is Open Mon-Thu 9:00 am - 1:00 pm www.stjohnsumcgso.com If your birthday or anniversary is not listed or you know of someone s that is missing please call or email the church office (stjohnsumcgso@gmail.com or 299-3866)