The Grapevine March 2009 Exciting News Be a part of history of NCUMC. We are beginning a brick campaign. There will be a walkway connecting our new building to the existing one which will be laid with engraved pavers. You can purchase one or as many as you like to remember a loved one or in honor of your family, etc. The cost is $75 each. For an organization, the cost is $100 each. If this is something you would like to participate in but find it a financial hardship, we will work with you. See brick on the table in the narthex along with the forms. Please share this with friends, former members that lived in the area, etc. If you have any questions, please see Bob or Betty Simmons 1st Deadline for 100 bricks will be April 19th. New Covenant United Methodist Church Corner As you know, every little bit helps, especially in the season we are in as a nation. As we prepare ourselves for the 40 days of Lent, I have been thinking about one area of sacrifice that will go a long way in helping to pay for the building we are blessed to have. I call it, Change for Change. We are facing many changes in our world, in our nation, in our lives and in the church. When this building is finished, it will bring change to New Covenant. It will be a tool through which God s grace can flow into the lives of people. It will become an avenue through which God can use us to bring change in the community and world around us. It will give us more space to do ministry and create various ministries. This is change we need, and change that will bring rich returns in our lives and those we minister among. In order to do this, we need to give. That goes without saying. Many of you have been giving faithfully to the building fund and will continue because it s important. As your pastor, I want to thank you for your faithfulness. Now I want to challenge you to give your change. That s right. Most of us have pennies, nickels, dimes that are laying around the house. During the weeks that lead up to Easter, would you be willing to empty your pockets with the change you have at the end of the day, and bring it to church on Sunday mornings and give it to help with the building fund? We will be surprised at how much we can collect by Palm Sunday. This also might be a way for your children to get involved with their change, and it will give them a stake in the future of this church. It is called Change for Change. There will be a container placed on the stage area for you to place your change. You can bring it wrapped, or unwrapped. You can bring pennies, dimes, nickels, quarters, and silver dollars if you want to. Instead of your change laying around the house for weeks, let it become a part of your commitment to the church. If you want it to become a tax deduction, you will need to place it in something with your name and amount on the container. If you don t care, just let it rattle in the jar. During the economic slowdown we are in, every little bit helps. There is an old song that is entitled Little Is Much When God Is in It. One of the verses says, In the harvest field now ripened, there s a work for all to do; Hark! The voice of God is calling, to the harvest calling you. Chorus: Little is much when God is in it, labor not for wealth or fame; There s a crown, and you can win it, if you go in Jesus name. Pastor s Your pastor, Wade
at Mountain Island You are invited to New Covenant UM Church Family Night March 17th 5pm-8pm For each purchase by family and friends between 5-8 PM, Chick-fil-A will donate 10% of the sales back to our building fund. You may also purchase at the drive through. Please let Chick-fil-A know that you are with New Covenant so that we will get credit for your purchase. If anyone would like a 2009 directory, you can make a $10 donation to the Building Fund. Directories are available in the narthex. Please use the directory to pray for one another. Add the following new members to your directory: Robert & Della Dionne 112 Walk-A-Long Way Mt. Holly, NC 28120 (704) 827-1019 We will have another joint service on Sunday, March 29th, at 10:30 a.m. We will not have Sunday School that morning. There will a covered dish luncheon following the worship service. Every 5th Sunday we will have a combined service so that everyone can keep in touch and we can fellowship together. Make plans now so that we can worship as one. Beginners Scrapbooking March 21st @ 3:00 p.m. The cost of the class is $10 and registration (in the narthex) is required so there will be enough supplies. All supplies will be provided but feel free to bring your own if you wish. This class is for beginners so no experience is necessary. All proceeds from this class benefit the UMYF. Please contact Wendy Sellers for more information at 704-697-0200. **Childcare provided for infants-age 10. United Methodist Women UMW Morning Circle The UMW Morning Circle will meet on Thursday, March 12th, at 10:00 a.m., at the church. All ladies of the church are invited to attend. UMW Morning Circle Volunteer at Belmont Adult Day Care On the second Tuesday of every month, the UMW Morning Circle will volunteer at the Belmont Adult Day Care. They will be leaving the church at 9:30 a.m. to go to the day care center. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please see Carol Thomas or Linda Sims. UMW Evening Circle The UMW Evening Circle will meet on Thursday, March 12th, at the home of Ruth Childers, at 6:30 p.m. We will be starting a new bible study, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. Please read Chapter 1, questions on page 210. All ladies of the church are invited to participate.
Ushers for March 8:45 a.m. Service 11:00 a.m. Service Randy Hallman Terry Hallman Sam Price Bobby Riggins Floyd Brown John Carpenter Jim Simmons Eric Ballard May 2nd, Heart to Heart Women s and Children s brunch. 10:30 a.m. Tickets $10-Adult, $5-Child. Fashion Show by Fifis, Heart Disease talk by Frances Williams and other special surprises. If you cannot attend but would like to sponsor someone or would like to make a donation, the proceeds go towards our college fund for youth in our church. If you have a picture of your children and yourself or your mother and yourself. Please hand into office or Michelle Stroupe for a special presentation. Happy Anniversary! Mike & Tina Miller 1 Andy & Cindi Lewis 9 Paul & Kari Cupp 19 Tom & Aloma Dougherty 20 John & Kelly Carpenter 22 Boyce & Wanda Parker 23 OOPS... Did we miss your birthday or anniversary? Please let us know! Drop a note off by the office so that our records can be updated. Ernestine Carroll 3 Rachel Gibson 3 Donny Coltharp 4 Ben Hart 4 Grace Duckworth 7 Katie Nantz 8 Robbie Rudisill 9 Kortney Beatty 11 Marissa Beatty 11 Lou Ann Simmons 11 Christie Everhart 12 Janet Hinson 12 Connor Patterson 12 Avery Cupp 14 Ron Elliott 16 Marie Bommer 17 John Carson 17 Ann Crocker 17 Cody Miller 19 Austin Smith 19 Tommy Bennett 20 Aloma Dougherty 22 Nick Kenney 22 Valerie Park 23 Rita Fedukovich 25 Tommy Everhart 26 Kenny Henkel 27 Ramsey Carson 29 Grady Whitaker 29 T.C. Miller 30 Cameron Ganous 31 Jerry Miller 31
Important Dates/Activities Fellowship Meal There will be a fellowship meal on Monday, March 2nd, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. We will be serving chicken pot pie, salad, bread and desserts. All proceeds go to the Building Fund Visitation Teams for March March 1st Donny Coltharp, Martha Coltharp March 8th Gregg Ganous, Cindy Ganous March 15th Bobby Riggins, Jane Riggins March 22nd Johnny Stewart, Sam Price March 29th Melissa Patterson, Michelle Stroupe Remember those who cannot be a part of our fellowship on a regular basis: Gerald Carroll 321 Winding Trl. Stanley, NC 28164 (704) 263-9021 Michael Gilstrap Tommy & Harriette Everhart Walter McTague Kristina Sellers Donna Jordan Williams Family Mason Gardner Genny Webb Denny Lany Brad Edwards Kai Peggy Snidow Family Ken Burgess Gertrude Smith Family Alden Dennis Mike Copeland Peggy Phifer Bill Gibson Frances Loose David Sellers Peggy Smith Cheryl John Greggs Ronnie Fruia Peggy Cranfield Polly Miller Paul Henkel Jerry Potter Will Drake John Gregg Economy Lorene Macemore Danielle Riddle Tina Miller Betty Little Family Sherrill Beatty Peggy Smith Jobless Devin Kelley Michelle Kelley Steve Dettmar Stolle Family Carolyn Nancy Grimes Terri Teasley Andy Gant Don Turner Plane Crash Victims Our Leadership Church Our President Valerie Baldwin Hannah Martin American Forces Lost, Homeless, Orphans Shut-Ins, Lonely Calvin Bass Gary BechTel Bill Cranfield Mike Miller Edith Cranfield Gibson Family Clyde Hatley Vern Tatum Betty Wheeler Cupp Family Calvin Bass Travelers Murphy Stiles Chris Hinson Mildred Bolick Brian Center, Rm. 611 515 S. General s Blvd. Lincolnton, NC 28092 Mailing Address: P. O. Box 249 Lincolnton, NC 28093 (704) 735-2301 Sue Henkel 14527 Lucia-Riverbend Hwy. Mt. Holly, NC 28120 (704) 827-6643 Woodrow Fox If there is someone you would like to put on this list, please call the church office.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL We need helpers for Vacation Bible School! We will have our first meeting on MONDAY, MARCH 16, 7PM This year, we will be going on safari and learning about The Lord s Prayer. VBS dates are Sun., July 12 Fri., July 17. See Melissa Patterson for more information! FAMILY FUN NIGHT Saturday, March 28th, 5-7 pm The Children's Council invites all children ages Infant 2nd grade to Family Fun Night! Bring your parents, siblings, grandparents and other family members to a fun night here at the church. We ll play, do a craft and have a covered dish dinner. See Melissa Patterson or Angie Bass for more information! Come Play With Us! Join us for playtime on Monday March 9th & Monday March 23, 930-1130. This playdate is open to the community, so please invite someone to come play with us. See Angie Bass for more info. Upcoming Events Sponsored by the Children s Council Mark your calendars for these fun family events! Watch the newsletter, bulletin and website for more information! Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 11 Craft days for Mom and Dad May 9th and June 20th Vacation Bible School July 12-17 DATE 8:45 11:00 March 8, 2009 March 15, 2009 March 22, 2009 March 29, 2009 (10:30 am) April 5, 2009 Kristy Ballard, Melissa Hallman, Dannette Carson, Andy & Cindi Lewis Dustin & Danielle Hutchison, Carol Hamilton, Alicia Underwood, Angie Bass Kim & Kellyn Reese, Heather & Ashley Vellers, Adam Overbay Shannon Reavis, Savannah Cooper, Pat Brown, Ruth Childers, Debbie & Emily Stewart Steve & Missy Michael, Luann Elliott, Wayne Beatty, Chris & Holly Adams Karen Rhyne, Cheryl Smith, Brittany Hutchison, Makenzie Campbell, Wendy & Kristina Sellers Kim & Katie Abernathy, Shan & Michelle Stroupe, Patty & Valerie Park, Rhonda McPherson Kelly & John Carpenter, Peggy Beatty, Judy Price, Eddy & Sandy Cox, Tommy & Haley Fedukovich, Sam Price, Melissa Patterson Hannah Carpenter
SAMARITAN'S PURSE We were a part of this! MARCH MISSION OFFERING On Saturday, April 18, 2009, The Community Foundation of Gaston County, Inc. is sponsoring the Community Foundation RUN 7 For The Money. Run 7 is an opportunity to unite community volunteers, donors and businesses in fun camaraderie to support non-profits in Gaston County. If we donate our March Mission Offering to this group and designate our gift is to go to Shining Farms, Matching Funds in an amount up to 70% will be added to the gift we send for Shining Hope Farms. Our gift will be doing "double duty" as our offering will help, but just think how good it would be for Shining Hope Farms to have the additional funds. Please support this Mission Offering. Information from Samaritan's Purse on Operation Christmas Child for 2008 has been received by the church. How proud we should be to know that we are a part of this. "Dear Project Leader, We are deeply grateful for your congregation's commitment and support of Operation Christmas Child in 2008. Some 8 million gift-filled boxes were collected, including 4.9 million in the United States - the most ever since the project's inception 16 years ago. That's 8 million children and their families who will hear the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ, and it is mission-minded churches and groups like yours who make this spiritual harvest possible!" Thanks, New Covenant! If any one is interested in participating in the Run7 contact Shining Hope Farms as they have brochures with all the information. Located in the community of Lucia, Shining Hope Farms provides therapies for people living with disabilities. Shining Hope Farms is a member of the American Hippotherapy Association, a group of medical professionals (physical, occupational and speech therapists and others) who are interested in the use of equine movement as a treatment strategy. Occupational, physical and speech therapies are offered in the farm environment utilizing the highly motivating tools of interactions with farm animals and the natural environment for therapeutic rehabilitation, skill building and adaptation. Once clients have met their individualized physical, cognitive and/or communication goals, therapist will suggest and help facilitate goal maintenance by providing opportunities for continued participation at the farm through volunteering, work-based projects, recreational horseback riding, horticulture or animal care. Improved muscle tone, balance, posture, coordination, motor development as well as emotional well-being are benefits of Hippotherapy. Please support our Special Mission Offering on March 1st! Saturday, March 7th Youth Highway Cleanup! Meet at church at 10:00 a.m. Bring money for lunch. Robin Largent, Megan Mercer and Heather Miller will be going on a Chrysalis weekend, March 19-22. Please pray for them as they go to experience God s love and grace. Confirmation Retreat at Miss Teresa s house! Saturday March 28th at 6:00 p.m. to Sunday March 29th until 5:00 p.m. Looking Ahead Wednesday, April 8th Hiking!! If this is your spring break, meet at the church at 9:30 a.m. Bring picnic lunch and money for supper and go hiking with Miss Teresa.
Church Staff Ministry Team Rev. Wade Childers Pastor At New Covenant Sunday through Thursday Rev. Tony Smith Assistant Pastor At New Covenant Sunday through Thursday Teresa Auten Director of Youth & Children s Ministries At New Covenant Sunday through Thursday Janet Hinson Director of Music At New Covenant Wednesday and Sunday Linda Stroup Church Secretary At New Covenant Monday through Thursday Church Office Hours Monday Thursday 8:00 AM 12:00 PM 704-827-4468 newcovenantumc@bellsouth.net NEW COVENANT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 14514 Lucia-Riverbend Hwy. Mt. Holly, NC 28120 Phone: 704-827-4468 Fax: 704-827-9083 Open hearts, open minds, open doors The people of the United Methodist Church