First Look First united Methodist church Newsletter May 19, 2014 Volume 43, Issue No. 20 Greetings from David Dear Fellow Missionaries, The Seasoning of Life is our sermon series for the next several weeks. We have been using John 10:10 as a basis for this series, that Jesus came so the we might have life abundantly. Sometimes we find out abundant life looks anything but abundant. I recall Mr. Capps, a retired engineer who cared for his non-responsive wife in a nursing home I visited in Asheboro from 1990-94. Every single day, Mr. Capps was by her bedside talking to her, changing diapers, bathing her, doing whatever he could. She never spoke but to see the joy and the tenderness with which he cared for his wife was a lesson for me and everyone who witnessed it. He would, in a heartbeat, tell you that his cup was filled to overflowing in life! What looked like difficulty to us, was abundant life to him. This Sunday we are going to talk about the ascension from Luke 24:44-53. We hear of the disciples before the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured upon them (Acts 2) and how they simply were continually in the temple blessing God. It doesn t sound like much world changing is going on, but it was necessary in that season of their lives so that they would be ready for the gift of the Holy Spirit. I hope you will join me in praying through this text as God forms a sermon in us! I look forward to being in mission and ministry with you this week! In Christ s Service, David A Special Thank You to David Whiteside Jim Ware Kathy Plemmons Jeff Plemmons Frank Larrazabal Jim Anderson Lyn Anderson Walter Blaine Neal Burton Dave Cramp Janice Cramp Chris Giles Tiz Johnston Martha McCamy Angela Neal Steve Neal May Robinson Tres Robinson Saxon Scarborough John Senter Susanne Whitesides Each of these people helped to improve our church landscape on Saturday, May 3. Whenever you see one of them, be sure to show your appreciation. THANK YOU for a job well done!
We Witness By Our Prayers By Our Presence May 18, 2014 8:45 a.m. Worship 117 9 a.m. Worship 65 11 a.m. Worship 319 Total Worship 501 Sunday School 220 By Our Service Sunday, May 25 Scripture Readers 8:45-Angela Neal 11-Wayne Beatty Doorstopper Jane Sumner Bus Driver Greeters Charlie Greene Pauline and Don Church Peggy Dameron and Julie Heath Chris Pridnia Minister on Call Weekend of May 30-June 1 David Christy: 828-400-4552 Welcome New Member Closed for renovations The restrooms on the second floor of the main building will be closed May 19-June 4. Additional restrooms are available for use on the first and third floors or in the FLC. Thank you for your patience as we continue to improve our church buildings. Parish nurse ministry May is Mental Health Month which calls attention to the importance of mental health to overall health and wellness. Faith communities can be an important part of one s recovery through education and support. If you need assistance finding resources, Partner s Behavioral Health Management is a community resource for mental health, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and substance abuse needs. Contact their consumer relations department at 704-884-2519 to learn more about faith-based resources. Community Blood Drive June 2, 2-6:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church. Please call 704-864-0479 or go online, www.cbcc.us to schedule your own appointment. Financial Guidance for Seniors: Are you Afraid You ll Outlive Your Money? Wednesday, June 18, 12 p.m., First Presbyterian Church with Brian O Regan. Brian is Senior Vice President at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Inc. Program is free, and lunch is $5. Please make a reservation by Monday, June 16 so they can prepare enough food, 704-864-2651. Bill Blackwelder, Jr. Kids Cooking Camp The Gastonia Parish Nurse Ministry is sponsoring the event again this year. We had a great time last year and hope you will join us in 2014 to be a chef for a week! Please see page 6 for further details.
Youth connections May 25, 2014 9 a.m. Youth Bible Study Morning Glow Leaders: Griffin Harwell and Julia Underwood. No UMYF-Memorial Day. Congratulations to... Drew Jurs and the Forestview High School Golf Team for a first place finish in the State Finals. Julia Underwood and Olivia Devine who were selected for the Varsity Cheerleading Squad at South Point High School. Names in the news It's that time of year, so if you have student news, please send to amanda@fumcgastonia.org so we can recognize individual accomplishments. Children s Ministry Camp Tekoa Are you looking to have some great fun this summer? Have you thought about attending church camp? The 2014 schedules can be found on the Camp Tekoa Web site at www.camptekoa.org Register now and let amanda@fumcgastonia.org know when you do so we can recognize you in the Newsletter. Fifth Grade Retreat Friday, May 30-Saturday, May 31, 2014. Summer fun Be sure to join the fun at Vacation Bible School! This year s program is all about Weird Animals! God filled the world with a lot of crazy creatures...including you! When kids feel weird, different, or even lost in a crowd nothing compares to the extraordinary love of Jesus. JOIN THE FUN AT VBS: July 27-July 30, 5:30 p.m.-8:15 p.m.
Music Ministry Music Schedule Tuesday, May 20 6:30 p.m. Music Committee, Room 114 Wednesday, May 21 7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal, Room 114 Worship Schedule Sunday, May 25 8:45 a.m. Sanctuary 9 a.m. Theater 11 a.m. Sanctuary Sunday, May 25 10 a.m. Chancel Choir, Room 114 Men s Ensemble Starts Soon! We invite all men who like to sing to come be a part of our seasonal Men s Ensemble. Concise rehearsal [6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 28, June 4, June 11] and performance [June 5, 8, 15] schedule. Enjoyable music and fellowship you do not have to be a choir member to participate. See you Wednesday, May 28, 6:30 p.m, Choir Room. Contact Saxon for more information. Announcing: Summer Concert Series Our newly organized Concert Team [Susan Lisle, Skip McPhail, Bethe Rogers, Saxon Scarborough and Jim Ware] will be coordinating the scheduling and promotion of concerts for FUMC. We are pleased to announce for this summer: *Darrell Bumgardner & Just Us Band 7 p.m. Friday, June 13 FUMC Theater *Smithills Brass Band from Great Britain 7 p.m. Thursday, July 24 Sanctuary *Gospel Jubilee 7 p.m. Sunday, August 10 FUMC Theater Music Ministry Contacts Rev. Saxon Scarborough Minister of Music saxon@fumcgastonia.org 704.864.4371 x233 704.674.3370 cell Susan Lisle Music Associate susan@fumcgastonia.org 704.864.4371 x237 Aaron Prillaman 162 East Worship Leader aaron@fumcgastonia.org 480.466.1111 cell Timothy Scruggs Organist timothy@fumcgastonia.org 828-429-1796 cell James Smith Assistant Organist beanman@vnet.net 704-609-0058 cell Family life Center Save the Date: Saturday, June 28 will be FUMC night at the Grizzlies. FUMC will have a VIP section all our own with a tent, picnic tables, etc plus a reserved spot in the bleachers. The Grizzlies will be taking on the Fayetteville Swamp Dogs. Game time is 7 p.m. The cost will be $5/person which includes game ticket, hot dog, chips, and a drink. Last year was kind of a wash out, but hoping this year will be sunny and warm. Contact Jim Ware, 704-864-4371 ext. 241 or jware@fumcgastonia.org for more information. Let s have an awesome turn out for the game.
connect Wednesday Dinner, May 21 Volunteer appreciation meal, 5:30 p.m., FLC. End of grade proctors needed for our partner schools We need to be the PTO for our at-risk partner schools. I believe all students are at-risk for something, so I have spent my life trying to share the love of Christ with all God's children. Specifically we are needed to proctor the end of grade test Wednesday, May 28 and Thursday, May 29 from 8 a.m.- noon. York Chester Middle School needs 15 each day. Pleasant Ridge Elementary (Please contact James Giambusso, School Counselor, 704-866-6096 to sign up) and Warlick Alternative School also needs assistance. This is a state requirement and these schools simply don't have enough parents to volunteer. It is not difficult work, just requires passing out paper and pencils and monitoring the room with the teacher. You can not help the student with the testing in any way. I hope First United Methodist Church will show God's love with our neighboring students. Contact Nan White or myself if you can assist in any way. Thank you, Becky Greene Scholarship fund Circle #9 thinks there s reason to celebrate the end of the school year! Honor your student(s), their parents or teachers by making a donation to FUMC s Scholarship Fund in their name. Return this form to Amanda with your contribution by May 21. No more pencils, no more books, No more teachers loving looks. Celebrate the first of vacation By helping a student s education! In memory of: In honor of: Given by: Amount: Like us on facebook Did you know that if you like our Facebook page (First United Methodist Church of Gastonia, NC) then you will receive weekly happenings of what is going on in the wonderful work of First United Methodist Church? We have 396 likes, and would like to get 500 likes so that we can have another avenue through which to tell the great story of ministry through First UMC! Newsletter articles must be submitted via email by 9 a.m. on Wednesday prior to publication on the following Monday. Email your submission to Amanda, amanda@fumcgastonia.org. Please note that articles are at the Editors discretion due to limited space, run time, etc. Thank you for your cooperation.
events AND NEWS DR. BILL MEDLIN, III WILL BE RETIRING To celebrate his tenure as District Superintendent, as well as his ministerial career, a Retirement Reception will be held Sunday, June 1, 2014 from 2-4 p.m. at Clemmons United Methodist Church in Clemmons, NC. Dr. Medlin served FUMC from 2004-2007. Cards and greetings for a Book of Remembrance would also be appreciated. Please send items by May 28 to Amy Johnson, 1031 Reynolda Rd., Winston Salem, NC 27104.
May 2014 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday To print this calendar, select print and choose page 7.
The mission of First United Methodist Church: To see Christ in every person we encounter and demonstrate to them the love of God and the teachings of Jesus. Prayers for those serving in the military CW3 Shaun Breth (Nan White's grandson) MSGT Martin Bo M. Henson (Louise Henson s son) CAPT Parker Gray (Jimmy Gray & Lynn Lamb s son) SGT Nathan Siceloff (David & Libby Siceloff s son) SFC Bo Beam (Ernie & Rosemarie Nivens' son-in-law) SSGT Zach Gray (Donna McPhail's son) SGT David Frederick (Amanda P. Frederick's husband) SSGT David DeBerry (Chris DeBerry s son) A1C Jessica DeBerry (Chris DeBerry s daughter-in-law) CPL Donald Hamrick (Charlie Greene s cousin) AE1 Steve Clark (Katie Spurrier s son) PFC Landon Doctor (Katherine Crawford Doctor s husband) CHPL LT Crystal McPhail (Skip McPhail s daughter) Chad Buttrey (Sam Stout s cousin) SGT Josh Marlow SA Tyler Turner (Bonnie and Horace Turner s grandson) ENS Parrisha Barnes (former member of UMYF) Connect Phone: 704-864-4371 Email: contact@fumcgastonia.org Web: www.fumcgastonia.org Give fumcgastonia First United Methodist Church PO Box 218 Gastonia, North Carolina 28053 Published weekly except one week in July and Christmas week, at 190 E. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia, NC 28052 (USPS 198-720). Periodicals postage paid at Gastonia, NC. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Newsletter of First United Methodist Church, PO Box 218 Gastonia, NC 28053 first United Methodist church PO Box 218 Gastonia, NC 28053 David Christy, Senior Minister Saxon Scarborough, Minister of Music Lisa Marisiddaiah, Parish Nurse Aaron Prillaman, 162 East Worship Leader Program Staff Gregg Plott, Senior Associate Minister Dave Cramp, Visitation Minister Jim Ware, Director of Family Life Center Timothy Scruggs, Organist James Westmoreland, Minister of Congregational Care Rebecca Greene, Director of Youth Ministries Monica Smith, Director of Food Services Kristi McClellan, Director of Weekday Preschool Eddie Ingram, Pastoral Psychotherapist: 704-375-5354, x411