January 2016
FI RST
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH SALISBURY, NC est. 1783
fumcsalisbury.org
REMARKS Taking time for rest rarely happens. The demands on our schedule too frequently snuff out our chance to stop, ponder God’s presence in our lives, and feel refreshed for whatever is ahead. Nearly every day, we fill our hours with tasks upon more tasks. Errands need to be run. Children need to be transported. Meals needs to be prepared. Laundry needs to be folded and put away. Leaves need to be raked. Flower beds need weeding. What else? How does your list continue? After all, what really needs to happen? We approach our day presupposing that we need to accomplish our inordinately long list of tasks. Yet we seldom reflect our need for God in our schedules. It’s quite simple, but so elusive. Beginning in January and extending beyond Easter, “RESToration” will be our ministry theme at First United Methodist Church. This ministry theme unites a real world need with God’s desires as revealed in the Scriptures. In the Genesis story about God first creating, we read about God creating on the first six days and then resting on the seventh day. If God saw reason to rest, then why don’t we? Why do we feel the compulsion to toss aside our moments to rest? To help us understand more deeply our need for rest, I invited Dr. Matthew Sleeth to preach on January 10 at both worship services. You will not want to miss Dr. Sleeth’s powerful message! A former emergency room physician, Dr. Sleeth resigned from his position as chief of the medical staff and director of the ER to teach, preach, and write about faith and the environment. Since founding Blessed Earth with his wife, Nancy Sleeth, he has spoken at 1,000 churches and schools throughout the country. Dr. Sleeth is the author of Serving God, Saving the Planet: A Christian Call to Action, the introduction to The Green Bible, and 24/6: A Prescription for a Healthier, Happier Life. In addition to Dr. Sleeth’s visit, my sermons in the coming weeks will connect to “RESToration.” Plus, we will offer some small group learning opportunities. During Lent, which begins in early February, we will explore more closely the value of prayer undergirding our rest. Through it all, we seek to find balance and wholeness, to be “perfectly restored in Thee,” as Charles Wesley wrote.
Dr. Matthew Sleeth
Grace and peace, Pastor Mark
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
217 South Church Street Salisbury, NC 28144 (704) 636-3121
REST ORATION renewal. balance. discipleship. Pastor Mark will lead a series based on Dr. Matthew Sleeth’s book, 24/6, incorporating a video segment, Bible study, and group discussion. The class will meet on Tuesday, January 12; Thursday, January 14; Tuesday, 19; Thursday, January 21; at 2:00 pm in the Seeker’s classroom.
WORK
Ministry Intern Tangela Cameron will lead an Adult Seminar entitled “Sabbath in the Bible.” These sessions, which will look closely at the biblical texts related to the Sabbath, will H E A LT H meet in the Golden Rule Class on Wednesdays, January 6, 13, 20, 27 and February 3, at 6:30 pm.
children CHURCH
DEATH
FAMILY
holiness
SLEEPWEATHER
M EET I N GS
D E B HOME T
life UNEMPLOYMENT COLLEGE G
AS PRICES
P O L I T IC SH O M E W O R K
H A P P I N E S S B I L LS
F I NA N C E S
SCHOOL
EXERCISE
CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES Go Fish!
Go Fish is an opportunity for Kindergarten through 5th grade kids on Wednesday nights at 6:30pm in the Nest!
2016: Don’t be bored this Winter! Join us on Wednesday
Pat McKim Director of Children’s Ministries
nights for Go Fish and Board Games! Chutes and Ladders, Battleship, Operation, Connect Four and more...Come check out these games and the message that Jesus wants us to hear. Fun skits, crazy games and awesome message for your child and family!
Chill Out! UMW Winter Reading Challenge
January-February all children are being challenged to get into a good book!
Here’s how it works:
1) Pick up a reading list sheet from the children’s ministry bulletin board to record all that you read. 2) Visit the NEST and check out some of our newest books as well as older ones (books need to be faith-based—at least 7 books need to be from the NEST). 3) Read as many books as possible from January to February. Those reading over 15 books will receive a COOL giftcard from Cold Stone (please return books as you finish so that others can check them out). 4) Forms must be turned in to Pat McKim no later than February 28.
Here are two of our newest books!
KIDS FIRST IN CHRIST page 3
FUMC SALISBURY
SCENES FROM ADVENT AT FIRST
Dudley meets Santa Claus at the Watch and Wait Breakfast
Mia and Gracie meet Santa, too!
Samantha and Collin Hensley are suited up for Bed, Bethlehem, and Beyond
Gift-wrapping for Isenberg families at Watch and Wait
UMW tree at ARC Festival of Trees
Delivering goodie bags to Isenberg
A scene from Bed, Bethlehem, and Beyond, our Nativity Play page 4
CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES OUTREACH Each month we are highlighting teachers from one of our childcare programs. This month, we would like to introduce you to Patsy Langlais and Jodi Rocco , teachers of the 4’s class.
First United Methodist Church’s Children Programs are bustling with growth, learning, service, and love. We are so thankful for all our teachers and volunteers for making the FUMC Preschool, Child Development Center, and After-School Childcare Programs successful. God shines brightly in the smiles of our students. For more information on these programs, check out fumcsalisbury.org/children-and-youth.
Hanging out with the FUMC Preschool
Jodi Rocco
Birthday: August 3rd Grew up in Iowa and Arkansas Graduated from University of Miami and received a Masters Degree in Accounting from University of Virginia. Lived in Tampa and Charlotte before moving to Salisbury eight years ago to live on High Rock Lake. Husband: Mike; Children: Kyle (7), Colby (5), and Jax the Boxer. Member of FUMC Salisbury for six years. Hobbies/Interests: I love camping, spending time on the lake, and game nights with family and friends. This is my third year at FUMC Preschool. Previously, while maintaining a professional business career, I enjoyed volunteering with children through programs such as America Reads and Junior Achievement. After having children, I enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom for several years, and of course, substituting in the preschool! I feel privileged to have a job where I truly look forward to coming to work everyday! I love experiencing the eagerness to learn and the joyfulness that young children bring to school everyday.
Patsy Langlais
Birthday: February 8th Husband: Charlie; Son: Charles (17); Stepchildren: Michael (31), Elaine (27). Hobbies/Interests: Cooking, playing games, spending time with family. I moved to Salisbury when I was ten. I graduated from Catawba College with a degree in Early Childhood Education. I taught in the Rowan-Salisbury and Sumter, SC, School Systems for twelve years. After meeting my husband who was an Air Force Pilot, I spent ten years in South Carolina, New Mexico, and Virginia, raising our children and being an Air Force wife. We moved back to Salisbury after my husband retired from the Air Force and I began teaching at FUMC. I am currently in my tenth year. page 5
The mission of First United Methodist Church is to make and nurture Christian Disciples through the presence and power of God.
HERITAGE MOMENT
In 1916, First Methodist Church
built “the great Tabernacle” to house the congregation’s worship while the new sanctuary was being built. The Tabernacle, built amazingly in ONE DAY, sat on Presbyterian property down Fisher Street. To mark the occasion of the Tabernacle’s first worship service, Dr. T.F. Marr welcomed Bishop John C. Kilgo to preach and Mr. Julian P. Moorman to lead the singing.
N.B. With gratitude to Betty Dan Spencer for furnishing these images
page 8
YOUTH MINISTRIES 2015 was fantastic. I couldn’t be more excited to see where 2016 takes the Salisbury Youth.
Last year, we served on mission in our local community and in Western North Carolina. We worshiped, fellowshipped, traveled, learned, and grew together. This year, we are going to continue to serve and grow as Christ’s disciples from Salisbury all the way down to Honduras. On June 19, a group of youth and adults from FUMC will travel to San Pedro Sula, then on to the mountains of Honduras to provide orphan care. Over a week, we will spend time in many different orphanages working to meet spiritual and social needs of children and physical needs of their homes. If you are interested in learning more, or providing financial support for the mission trip to Honduras, please contact me. I am blessed immensely to work with the students of First United Methodist Church, and I consider it a privilege to walk with them in their growth as disciples. 2015 was fantastic and 2016 will be even better! -Briana McLeod Director of Youth and Media
Winter/Spring 2016 Youth Events
January 10: Youth January 17: Ice Skating trip after 11am service January 24: Youth January 31: Youth February 7: Youth Tuesday, February 9: Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper February 14: Youth Saturday, February 20: Day trip to Raleigh for Black History Month February 21: Youth February 28: Youth March 6: Youth March 13: Trip to the Pit after 11am service March 20: Youth March 27-April 3: No Youth Saturday, April 9: Trip to the Zoo April 10: Youth April 17: Youth April 22-23: Ptōchòs Project April 24: Youth May 1: Youth May 8: Trampoline Park after the 11am service May 15: Youth May 22: Youth May 29: No Youth June 5: Senior Sunday, End-of-Year Picnic after 11am service
Youth laying hand s on a globe, praying for the w orld.
king group!
One good loo
YOUTH MINISTRIES In December, 21 youth and adults travelled to Washington DC. During the weekend, they toured The Capitol, visited many museums, memorials, and monuments, worshipped at the National Cathedral, and served in meal preparation at the DC Central Kitchen. It was a wonderful trip, and they can’t wait to go again!
The group at the White House Laura and Addison posing with a statue at a Smithsonian Museum
Sarah, Lindsey, Taylor, Megan, Caroline, and Maris at the Washington Monument
The DC Central Kitchen (DCCK) is not a soup kitchen. Though their headquarters is a bustling kitchen, they serve no meals there. Every day, they transform 3,000 pounds of leftover, unwanted food into 5,000 healthy meals. DCCK staff loads these meals onto their fleet of trucks and delivers them to 80 partner agencies in the Washington metropolitan area, including homeless shelters, rehabilitation clinics, and afterschool programs. Our group greatly enjoyed partnering with DCCK on Monday morning. The experience was unforgettable. Corydon reflects on what he learned at the Holocaust Museum
Learn more about DCCK at www.dccentralkitchen.org. Taylor and Mary Alice slice up strawberries at the DC Central Kitchen
Earle and Joel cut up complicated cantaloupe during Meal Prep at the DC Central Kitchen
Ethan peels, slices, and dices tomatoes
Sandy, Will, and Caroline cut and bag squares of cornbread to be delivered to local shelters
The group after worship on Sunday at the National Cathedral page 10
Join us for
FUN in WITH FOOD February! LEARN RECIPES AND TIPS FOR HEALTHY AND DELICIOUS FOOD FROM:
Leslie Dunkin
SALISBURY’S FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Toi Degree
ROWAN COUNTY FAMILY AND CONSUMER EDUCATION AGENT
D’Andrea Lawson CATERING FIRM DIVINE APPETIT
Betsy Seymour
DAVIDSON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Tuesdays in February at 2:00pm in the Fellowship Hall at First United Methodist Church
JANUARY CALENDAR SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
7
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
Church Office Closed 7:00 PM AA
7:00 PM AA
8
9
3
4
5
8:30 AM Worship Service 9:45 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship Service
6:00 PM Girl Scouts
10:00 AM Staff Meeting 2PM Bulletin Deadline 7:00 PM AA 8:00 PM Alanon 6:00 PM SPRC 4:30PM Novice Choir 5:00PM Choristers 5:30PM Midweek Meal 6:30PM Go Fish! 6:30PM Midweek Meditation 7:30PM Chancel Choir
7:00 PM AA
District Meeting 7:00 PM AA
15
16
10
6
THURSDAY
8:30 AM Worship 9:45 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship 2:00 PM Uwharrie District Conference 5:30 PM Club 45 5:30 PM Salisbury Youth 7:00 PM Private Recital
9:00 AM Eve Circle 10:00 AM Naomi Circle 10:00 AM With These Hands 5:30 PM Beginners Running Class 6:00 PM Girl Scouts 6:15 PM Witness Team
11
12
10:00 AM Staff Meeting 2PM Bulletin Deadline 6:00 PM Trustees 4:30PM Novice Choir Meeting 5:00PM Choristers 5:30PM Midweek Meal 6:30PM Go Fish! 6:30PM Midweek Meditation 7:30PM Chancel Choir
13
7:00 AM Men's Prayer Breakfast 6:00 PM Rowan Helping Ministries 7:00 PM AA 8:00 PM Alanon
14
17
18
19
20
21
6:00 AM Rowan Helping Ministries 7:00 PM AA
District Event 7:00 PM AA
22
23
10:00 AM Staff Meeting 2PM Bulletin Deadline 7:00 PM AA 6:00 PM Church 4:30PM Novice Choir 8:00 PM Alanon Council Meeting 5:00PM Choristers 5:30PM Midweek Meal 6:30PM Go Fish! 6:30PM Midweek Meditation 7:30PM Chancel Choir
7:00 PM AA
7:00 PM AA
25
26
28
29
30
10:00 AM With These Hands 10:30 AM UMW Board Meeting 5:30 PM Beginners Running Class 6:00 PM Girl Scouts Meeting
10:00 AM Staff Meeting 2PM Bulletin Deadline 4:30PM Novice Choir 6:00 PM Autusm 5:00PM Choristers Society Meeting 5:30PM Midweek Meal 6:30PM Go Fish! 6:30PM Midweek Meditation 7:30PM Chancel Choir
7:00 AM Men's Prayer Breakfast 7:00 PM AA 8:00 PM Alanon
7:00 PM AA
7:00 PM AA
8:30 AM Worship Service 9:45 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship Service 5:30 PM Salisbury Youth
5:30 PM Beginners Running Class 6:00 PM Girl Scouts
24 8:30 AM Worship 9:45 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship 5:30 PM Club 45 5:30 PM Salisbury Youth
27
31 Children's Ministry Retreat 8:30 AM Worship 9:45 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship 5:30 PM Youth
page 12
BIRTHDAYS 1st
Robert Anderson, III Amber Braddy Eulalia Conrad Tom Paffrath Andy Storey Nancy Zimmerman
2nd 3rd
10th
Shirley Dissler Wendy Douglas
11th
Hazel Kirk Alisha Mastro Hannah Parker Lois Poteat Russ Snyder Cecelia Hedrick Strickland
Nolan Meyerhoeffer Sophie Wainright
4th
Chad Cross Beth Yelvington
5th
Brielle Dibley Ellis Hartsell Jenny Nussman
6th
12th
13th
Britni Branson Spencer Storey
7th
Edith Holshouser
8th
Andrew Goodwin Ken Ingram Caroline Johnson
9th
Matt Clement Bill Stanback
14th
15th
16th
Coleman Bready Evan Koontz Mary Anne Laningham Suzanna Maxwell Greg West
17th
Kahlil Cross Wayne Hager
18th
Jim Molitor Nelson White
19th
Dan Sullivan
Kim Grenoble Rikki Spencer Katelyn Storey Brad Williams
20th
Dee Brinkley Norman Clark Eli Robinson Robbie Watts
Joel Goodwin, II Scott Johnson Dr. Byron Perry Parker Reische
21st
Olive Robinson
22nd
Kathi Allen Deona Doby Betty Wilhelm
23rd
Liz Snyder
Christie Chea Nancy Sherriff Jean West
Lisa Hinson Joe Horn Kyle Rocco
24th
Jim Martin
25th
Tim Bivens
26th
Cress Goodnight Gracie Lineberry Sara Jean Maness
27th
Roland Fowler Wesley Ludwig Andrew Newman Mike Shuler
28th
Wayne Cline
29th
Corey Basinger Dot Peacock
30th
Jeff Insley Mike Jordan Marie Lomax Susan Maxwell Teague Rowland
31st
Bruton Allen, III Trish Dufresne
CELEBRATIONS In December, the United Way and the Rowan Rotary Club named students who conduct themselves with Service Above Self. Many students of First United Methodist Church were nominated, and several received awards for their acts of service.
page 13
Jude Smeltzer won First Place in the middle school category. After Jude’s sledding accident, Jude became committed to donating books, toys, and art supplies to children who are hospitalized.
Bailey Walker was named the runner-up in the middle school category. Bailey organized item collections for Rowan Helping Ministries and led her Girl Scout Troop to collect items, too.
UNITED METHODIST CONNECTIONAL NEWS
A leadership training event for United Methodist congregations in the Uwharrie District Hosted by the Rowan Missional Network Sunday, January 10, 2016 2:00 – 4:30 pm First United Methodist Church of Salisbury Inspiring Worship led by Rev. Laura Auten, District Superintendent Informative Classes with practical take-away ideas for church committees Cokesbury Display UMAR Craft Sale
CONTACT US If you would like to submit a churchwide announcement for the Sunday Worship bulletins, please send your announcement to bulletin@fumcsalisbury.org by Wednesdays at 2:00pm. To submit stories, articles, pictures, event announcements, etc. for the Ecclesia, please send your submissions to ecclesia@fumcsalisbury.org by the first Friday of the month prior to the monthly edition.
CHURCH STAFF The Reverend Doctor Mark Conforti Ms. Becca Blackmon Mr. Matthew Brown Mr. Murl Leazer Mrs. Pat McKim Ms. Briana McLeod Mrs. Betty Slife Mrs. Lindsay Wineka Mrs. Vicki Wood Ms. Beth Yelvington
Senior Pastor Business Administrator Director of Music Building Superintendent Director of Children’s Ministries Director of Youth and Media Lead Teacher of After School Program Director of Preschool Director of Child Development Center Lead Teacher of Summer Camp Program
Phone Number: (704) 636-3121 Fax: (704) 637-2933 Email: (firstname)@fumcsalisbury.org
ECCLESIA Published by:
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 217 SOUTH CHURCH STREET SALISBURY, NORTH CAROLINA 28144