NOVEMBER 2018 VOLUME 22, #11 CARTHAGE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH MONTHLY NEWSLETTER CUMC EMAIL: carthageumcsecretary@gmail.com CUMC WEBSITE: www.carthagetnumc.org FROM OUR PASTOR Rev. Monica Mowdy Who makes decisions for The United Methodist Church if there is no one person in charge? Good question. The only body that can set official policy and speak for the denomination is the General Conference. The General Conference is an international body of nearly 1,000 delegates that meets every four years. The delegates are elected by annual conferences (at annual conference sessions) to attend General Conference. They represent all annual conferences around the world. Half of the delegates are laity (non-clergy members), half are clergy. Bishops attend the General Conference but cannot vote. Different bishops serve as presiding officers during the conference. Other bishops cannot speak unless permission is specifically granted by the delegates. During General Conference, delegates discuss and vote on petitions and resolutions proposed by individuals, agencies, annual conferences, and other groups within the denomination. These actions result in a revision of the Book of Discipline, the denomination's book of law, and Book of Resolutions, policies of the denomination on current social issues. It is at General Conference where delegates wrestle with today's issues in light of scriptural teachings and the church's understanding of that teaching. Here is where the church's official stands and church policies are made regarding such issues as human sexuality, abortion, war and peace, as well as determination of ministries and funding. For the past 20+ years, resolutions and petitions are brought forward on the subject of human sexuality and at the end of each conference nothing is settled. At our last General Conference, when the conversation arose it was decided that human sexuality is too big of a conversation to be tucked within all the other necessary business at a once in four years meeting. The Commission on a Way Forward was established by the 2016 General Conference of the United Methodist Church. is expected to release their report at the end of this month. This commission was asked to prayerfully consider a way forward in regard to our conversation on human sexuality. This report is being released so that our churches may be aware of the options that will be considered by the special session of our General Conference in St. Louis in February 2019. There are almost as many thoughts on the subject as there are delegates. To clear up any confusion all me to tell you what The UM Book of Discipline says regarding human sexuality as of today: 4. Article IV. Inclusiveness of the Church The United Methodist Church is a part of the church universal, which is one Body in Christ. The United Methodist Church acknowledges that all persons are of sacred worth. All persons without regard to race, color, national origin, status,4 or economic condition, shall be eligible to attend its worship services, participate in its programs, receive the sacraments, upon baptism be admitted as baptized members, and upon taking vows declaring the Christian faith, become professing members in any local church in the connection. In The United Methodist Church no conference or other organizational unit of the Church shall be structured so as to exclude any member or any constituent body of the Church because of race, color, national origin, status or economic condition. 214. Eligibility The United Methodist Church is a part of the holy catholic (universal) church, as we confess in the Apostles' Creed. In the church, Jesus Christ is proclaimed and professed as Lord and Savior. All people may attend its
worship services, participate in its programs, receive the sacraments and become members in any local church in the connection ( 4). In the case of persons whose disabilities prevent them from reciting the vows, their legal guardian[s], themselves members in full covenant relationship with God and the Church, the community of faith, may recite the appropriate vows on their behalf. 304.3 Qualifications for Ordination While persons set apart by the Church for ordained ministry are subject to all the frailties of the human condition and the pressures of society, they are required to maintain the highest standards of holy living in the world. The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church. "Self-avowed practicing homosexual" is understood to mean that a person openly acknowledges to a bishop, district superintendent, district committee of ordained ministry, board of ordained ministry, or clergy session that the person is a practicing homosexual. All of these rules predate 1972. Nothing has changed. But in February there could be changes that will be voted on by half laity and half clergy. This is not a decision by the bishops of our conference. There are several plans to bring about change both progressive and traditional as well as plans to leave things right the way they are. There will also be plans brought forward at General Conference. At the meeting we attended emotions seemed to range between fear, worry, dread and even anger. I left feeling bad because I felt the emotions were clouding the true issue. Can we disagree about temporal earthly thoughts and still be the church to a hurting world or will we be lost in trying to make sense of something to the point of sacrificing the mission? On November 18th immediately following the church council meeting at 11:45 a.m., we will hold a Question and Answer session for anyone that has questions about where the church is in this process and maybe information that will help us with unknown and probably unrealized fears as Carthage UMC continues in the mission of making disciples for Jesus Christ to transform the world. In the meantime, this is NOT the time to worry, panic or even give into fears. When it is all said and done, we plan, God laughs.-- Children s Sabbath
More photos from Children s Sabbath FROM CHILDREN S MINISTRIES Ms. Nicole Happy November and blessings from the Children s Ministry! First of all THANK YOU to each and every one of you for your kind words and encouragement to all of the children follow our Children s Sabbath. The children worked so very hard preparing and did a wonderful job, we are so very proud of them and it means so much to them to know that YOU are proud of them as well! Also, if you took a child s name from the basket during children s sabbath we are so very thankful please remember to pray and try to connect with them throughout the next year. For everyone person from the church who connects with a child or youth is another link in the chain that will help bond them closer to Christ throughout their years! If you have any questions regarding the child who s name you took please see me or Mia!! Christmas time is coming soon the children s program is December 2nd at 6PM so please put that in your calendar now! We will also have a children s ministry family night December 16th full of fun, food, and fellowship! As always thank you for being a church family who loves and supports the children in their walk with God! FROM YOUTH MINISTRIES Mia Miller It doesn't seem possible that this is our November newsletter...in a few short weeks it will be Christmas and the beginning of a new year! Before we look that far down the road, here is what is going on with the Youth in our church. Our current mission project was dictated to us by mother nature's hurricanes that have affected our neighboring states. We are collecting funds for flood buckets to be sent to the hardest hit areas. UMCOR, United Methodist Committee On Relief, has just received the go-ahead to send flood buckets to the Carolinas and will soon be asking for another round of buckets and hygiene kits to be sent to Florida. Each bucket has an approximate cost of $65-$75. Over the past couple of Sundays, and continuing through Thanksgiving, members of our Youth will be collecting love offerings during both worship services each week. Those funds will be spent purchasing buckets and all the supplies to fill
them. We ask that you support us in our efforts to reach out to our brothers and sisters in need by giving generously. Friday, November 30th, the Youth will hold a Lock In here at the church. This event is open to youth in grades 6th- 12th and will begin at dinner time on Friday night and end after breakfast on Saturday morning. The time spent here at the church will be filled with fun, fellowship, worship, outreach and our mission project of assembling the flood buckets for UMCOR. My fondest memories as a teenager were those spent on weekend retreats with my friends from church. Please, join me in praying for the young people of our church and community to strengthen their faith in God, their love for each other, and their compassion for those in need in their community and beyond. Warmth in Winter 2019 takes place Feb.1-3 at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. Deadline to register is November 15th - NO Exceptions! The actual cost of attending the event (including registration, 2-night hotel stay, provided meals and transportation) is well over $200 per person...however, through the Youth budget and fundraising efforts, we have reduced that cost to only $85 per attendee*. This year we started a simple payment plan for those attending: 1st payment - $25 - was due on September 14th 2nd payment - $30 - due Nov.15th (registration closes) 3rd payment - $30 - due January 18th If you are new to this event, go check out the website: warmthinwinter.com and get a glimpse of all the hype for yourself. *there are full and partial scholarships available - please, don't let finances be the reason that your youth misses out - however, you MUST let Mia know by the Nov.15 deadline* As always, any student in 6th - 12th grade is welcome to attend Carthage Youth sponsored events and weekly meetings. We meet every Wednesday night from 5-7pm and every Sunday morning from 9:30-10:15am before worship begins at 10:30am. Feel free to contact Mia Miller for more info: carthageyouth@gmail.com or call/text to: 615-418-7503 Youth Wish List: Flat Screen TV
CHURCH OFFICE: The church office will be closed Thursday-Friday, November 22 nd -23 rd for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Also, Deanna will be having surgery on Tuesday, December 4 th. We need volunteers willing to come in and answer the phone and the door Monday Friday, 8:00 a.m. till 12:00 noon. There is a sign-up sheet in the office if you are interested in helping out. Also, Deanna is going to print all the December bulletins early. If you have any announcements, etc. for any of the December bulletins please turn these in by Monday, November 26 th at 9:00 a.m. SUBMISSIONS: Christmas Poinsettias: It s almost time for Christmas Poinsettias. Be watching the bulletin boards located outside of the sanctuary for envelopes if you wish to purchase a Christmas Poinsettia in honor of or in memory of a loved one. The cost will be $12.00 each. The deadline to purchase a Christmas Poinsettia will be Monday, Dec. 17 th at 10:00 a.m. Carthage UMC Pride: It was an honor to be asked to help prepare for the Gideon s Pastor Appreciation Dinner held at our church last month. The meal was perfectly prepared by the young men of our church with desserts provided by volunteers from the congregation. It was joyfully and enthusiastically served by our youth! They were extremely efficient at serving salads, meals, rolls, drinks, and desserts to each guest about 85 in all. Things were a bit hectic, but they never lost their cool or their manners! These kids (and the cooks) were such an inspirational testimony to the heart of service that lives at Carthage UMC. I am grateful to have been a small part of this dinner. HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BUILD In the next few weeks, Habitate will start its next home. We would love to have a work crew from the church come together on November 17 th. The building site will be on 1 st Avenue here in Carthage. More information to come, but plan on spending the morning with us on Nov. 17 th. Contact David Bass for details. Thank You: The Becomer s Circle annual auction and lunch was a great success. Thank you to everyone who donated items and services to the auction and to everyone who stayed and ate lunch with us and bid on the items. Thanks to your donations and bids, we were able to raise $3,366.00! This money will be put to work immediately in service to our church and community. Operation Christmas Child: It is time to plan for the Christmas Child project again. Collection week is November 12-19. Since 1983 Samaritan s Purse has distributed more than 100 million shoeboxes to underprivileged children! Last year our church was responsible for 160 of those boxes which is our best year yet. Each year the number of boxes we pack has increased. For us this is just a number but to the children who receive the box it can be a life changing event. For some it is their first gift and some have never heard the name Jesus. Included in each box is a booklet called The Greatest Journey in the child s language and it tells how God loves us and sent his son that we might know God and walk with him----the greatest journey. Because of the faithfulness of people like you who gave a simple gift, many have received the greatest gift. Sometimes whole families come to know Jesus through this ministry. Some churches have been planted through the shoebox ministry. Please consider if you can help with this ministry. WAYS YOU CAN HELP 1.Pray 2.Pack a box 3,Sponsor a box for $25.00 4.Donate to the shipping cost of $9.00 a box. Becomers pack 60 and would be happy to receive help in paying for shipping. 5. Donate items. Most needed now are scissors and sewing kits. You will also be invited to help Becomers when they pack their 60 boxes. Google Samaritan s Purse and click on Christmas Child to see many stories from children who received boxes in the past. There will be boxes and instructions for packing shoeboxes in the gathering room starting October 28. Shoebox gifts which are packed in plastic shoeboxes are encouraged because the box itself is a valuable gift.
Sunday School Classes making shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. Persecuted Christians Submitted by Jill Garner Pastor Andrew Brunson: (update) has been released from captivity & allowed to return to the US. He was originally detained in 10/16 following a failed coup against the Turkish government. Pastor Brunson had served in ministry in Turkey for 23 years without incident prior to his detention. (Turkey) Asia Bibi: (update) is awaiting the Supreme Court ruling on her death sentence for blasphemy. She has been on death row since 2010. Her family is hopeful she will be vindicated. However, Islamist extremists have vowed to kill her if she is released from prison, are inciting mobs & encouraging violence against infidels. (Lahore, Pakistan) November 4, 2018 International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church Be sure to like us on Facebook: Carthage United Methodist Church @CarthageUMCtn Website: www.carthagetnumc.org
CARTHAGE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH - NOVEMBER 2018 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 4 COMMUNION All Saints Day Observed 4:00pm Boy/Cub Scouts Meetings 11 2:00pm Lois Schnabel 80 th Birthday Party 4:00pm Cub Scouts Meeting 18 8:45am Church Breakfast 11:45am Church Council Meeting followed by Q&A Session 2:00pm Carthage Pavilion: Youth 4:00pm Boy/Cub Scouts Meetings 25 CLC SERVICE 5 7:00pm AA 7:00pm The Spot 12 OFFICE CLOSED VETERANS DAY OBSERVED 7:00pm AA 7:00pm The Spot 19 7:00pm AA 7:00pm The Spot 26 9:00AM December Newsletter & December Bulletins Deadline 6 7 9:00-11:30am Women s Bible Study 4:45pm Chimes 5:00pm Handbells 5:00pm Youth 5:30pm Children s 5:30-7:00pm Believe Bible Study 7:00pm Adult 13 14 9:00-11:30am 20 7:00pm Nursing Home Women s Bible Study 4:45pm Chimes 5:00pm Handbells 5:00pm Youth 5:30pm Children s 5:30-7:00pm Believe Bible Study 7:00pm Adult 27 28 4:45pm Chimes 1 All Saints Day 5:30-7:30pm Girl Scouts Meeting 6:00pm - Yoga 8 15 21 22 THANKSGIVING DAY OFFICE CLOSED 5:00pm Handbells 5:00pm Youth 5:30pm Children s 5:30-7:00pm Advent Study 7:00pm Adult 29 2 3 8:30-10:00 am Adult Practice 10:00am-12:00 noon Pet Blessing 9 10 9:00am Shawl Ministry 16 17 23 OFFICE CLOSED 30 Youth Lock-In 24