March 2016
FI RST
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH SALISBURY, NC est. 1783
fumcsalisbury.org
REMARKS During the season of Lent, our ministry theme “RESToration” is taking on a different hue, as we dig deeply into the beauty of prayer. How does a life of prayer bring about restoration in our lives, our church, and our community? Inasmuch as Lent sends us headlong into Holy Week – from Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem to Jesus’ gruesome death upon the cross – our spiritual practices find their fullness in the drama of those days. Considering the role of prayer, therefore, compels us to consider the moments when Jesus prays during Holy Week. Remember when Jesus prayed in Gethsemane; see Matthew 26:36-56. Jesus invited his disciples to sit by themselves while he went alone to pray. Jesus expressed the anguish tearing him apart on the inside: “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. (verse 38).” The Greek word for “very sorrowful” is perilypos. This same word is used to describe the depth of sadness riddling the rich man, when Jesus instructed him to sell his possessions and give it all to the poor (Luke 18:18-25). The rich man struggled mightily with giving up his vast wealth, because it represented his entire life. In Gethsemane, Jesus faced giving up his entire life. And His sacrifice was worth far more than any storehouse of riches! This place of authentic struggle led Jesus to pray to the Heavenly Father. In verse 39, Jesus prayed: “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Then, after interacting with his sleeping disciples, in verse 42 Jesus prayed further: “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” Jesus’ prayer for God’s will is simple, selfless, and entirely faithful. May Jesus’ prayer also inspire our own prayers! For us to pray for God’s will forces us to stare down the potential of sacrifice. To pray for God’s will to be done in your life and through your life means that you humbly relinquish something. Just WHAT is it for you? The Hasidic rabbi, Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev (1740–1809), wrote a powerful prayer that demonstrates the same Hebrew heritage as Jesus. To pray this prayer in earnest, we hope for the love of God to dominate our every thought, that every action become an act of service to the Most High. Lord of the world, I do not beg You to reveal to me the secret of Your ways – I could not bear it! But show me one thing; show it to me more clearly and more deeply; show me what this, which is happening at this very moment, means to me, what it demands of me, what You, Lord of the world, are telling me by way of it. It is not why I suffer that I wish to know, but only whether I suffer for Your sake. Amen. May this prayer captivate your heart, as we continue reflecting on the sorrow our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sake and the sake of the whole world. Lenten Blessings, Pastor Mark
ECCLESIA: a Latin term, based on the Greek “ekklesia.” The original word in scripture would translate to, “assembly”
or “congregation.” In Christian theology, ecclesia means a particular body of faithful people. We have titled our monthly newsletter ECCLESIA, to share stories of a faithful body of people: our church.
2016 Lord of the world, I do not beg You to reveal to me the secret of Your ways – I could not bear it! But show me one thing; show it to me more clearly and more deeply; show me what this, which is happening at this very moment, means to me, what it demands of me, what You, Lord of the world, are telling me by way of it. It is not why I suffer that I wish to know, but only whether I suffer for Your sake. Amen. -Levi Yitzchok
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY Backwards Easter Egg Hunt!! Easter Sunday, March 27 at 9:45am
Bring your basket! Find the empty eggs and then join the fun in filling them with Easter treasures in each of our children’s classrooms! We begin at the stage in the fellowship hall
Pat McKim Director of Children’s Ministries
s d r a t n w u k c a B r Egg H e t s a E
Save the Dates! Vacation Bible School: July 31-August 4
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Camp Discovery: July 3-8
Est. 2003
l i p p i a n s 4 :1 3
What does PRAYER mean to you? How do you pray? “[Prayer is] a chance to lift your hopes up to God. I pray for three things: For other People, for safety, and for forgiveness. -Connor
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PRESCHOOL Our preschool program is now enrolling children two to four years
old for the 2016-2017 school year. Our three-year-old class is full. There are several openings in our younger and older two’s classes and in the four’s class. Two-year-olds meet two mornings a week. The four-year-olds meet Monday through Friday mornings. For more information, check out the First United Methodist Church website or call Director Lindsay Wineka.
MARCH 10 , APRIL 14 , AND MAY 12
M.O.M.S MINISTRY
M.O.M.S. MOMS ON MISSION SEEKING ministry
AN OPPORTUNIY FOR MOMS OF INFANT - PRESCHOOL AGE CHILDREN TO COME TOGETHER TO LAUGH , PRAY , HAVE A TIME OUT , AND SEEK GOD ’ S DIRECTION FOR OUR FAMILIES . WE ALSO HELP SUPPORT FAMILIES WHEN NEW BABIES ARRIVE !
Our current study:
BEAUTIFUL MESS : MOTHERHOOD FOR EVERY MOMENT page 4
YOUTH MINISTRY Check out @salisbury_youth on Instagram and Twitter!
What does PRAYER mean to you? “Prayer is a time for me to talk to God.” -Max
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE Attention High School Seniors and College Students: it is time for you to prepare your applications for the Roy and Lula Goodman Scholarship awards for the next academic year. You should have already received a letter and an application from the committee with followup to come regarding the deadline date. It is not too soon to submit your material. The members of the scholarship committee look forward to hearing from you!
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UMW 5k
run/walk for missions CITY PARK APRIL 3, 2016 2:00pm tinyurl.com/umw5k
DANNY’S DISH Each month, check back for a new recipe from our Midweek Meal Coordinator, Danny Hunt. If you want to try these tasty creations, join us on Wednesday evenings at 5:30!
Aunt Grace’s Chocolate Pie 4 eggs beaten 1 cup sugar 1/2 stick butter 1 bar German chocolate 1/2 cup evaporated milk Beat eggs and add one cup of sugar. In sauce pan, melt butter and chocolate over very low heat. Add 1/2 cup evaporated milk. Stir until smooth. Pour into sugar/egg mixture. Bake in a deep dish pie shell for 40-45 minutes at 350 degrees. Enjoy!
What does LOVE mean? What does PRAYER mean to you? “Prayer is a deep and meditative reflection seeking God’s dwelling within us.” -Garry Cook, Pastoral Counselor
LENTEN ADULT SEMINAR 24 Hours That Changed the World Wednesdays, March 2, 9, 16, and 23 6:30 pm – 7:15 pm The Seekers Classroom
No single event in human history has received more attention than the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. In this Lenten journey, Jeff Insley will guide you through the last twenty-four hours of Jesus' life. Each class will feature a video segment and lesson, following closely the book, 24 Hours That Changed the World by Adam Hamilton. To reserve your copy of the book ($15), contact the church office by Wednesday, February 3. You are still welcome to participate in the class even without a copy the book.
EPILEPSY FOUNDATION OF NC Carole Young, Secretary of the Epilepsy Foundation of North Carolina, will take part in the Spring Stroll on April 9, at UNC Charlotte. This event is an important way our organization raises money to buy medicines for people in need. Seizure medicines are very expensive and some people either don’t have insurance or can’t afford their copays. I need you to sponsor my walk. Please make a tax deductible donation in any amount to EFNC and mark your check for “Spring Stroll.” Mail it to me at 1225 Arden Drive, Salisbury, NC 28144, and I will turn it in at the offices in Winston-Salem. You will receive a receipt. Thank you for your support in this endeavor.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Greetings! I am Evelyn Eller, and I serve on the Church Relation Committee for Habitat for Humanity of Rowan County. I am a member of Providence United Methodist Church. As a member of the Church Relation Committee, I have been asked to reach out to the Methodist Churches in Rowan County and let you know about volunteer opportunities with Habitat for Humanity. Some of your members may already volunteer and I appreciate them giving of their of time and talents. Volunteer opportunities include working on Habitat builds, providing food for volunteers, and working in the Habitat ReStore located at 1707 S. Main St. in Salisbury. Coleman Emerson serves as the Executive Director of Habitat and is always looking for the opportunity to speak at churches to spread the story of Habitat for Humanity of Rowan County. Jane Hartness serves as the Volunteer Coordinator of Habitat, and would love to sign up members of your congregation as volunteers. Coleman can be reached by email at Habitat@HabitatRowan.org, and Jane can be reached at Volunteer@HabitatRowan.org. The phone number for the Habitat of Rowan is (704) 642-6292. Many people volunteer to work on houses each Saturday, but construction also goes on during the week. So if you’re free during the week, there are opportunities to help with construction also. I hope to see you on a worksite in the future. Peace, Evelyn Eller page 9
firstARTS PRESENTS
CONCERT FOR C O M M U N I T Y COLLABORATION BENEFITING THE MISSION OF ROWAN COUNTY’S
ONE CHURCH ONE CHILD CIOMPI QUARTET
RESIDENT QUARTET AT DUKE UNIVERSITY IN CONCERT ________________________________________________
FRIDAY, APRIL 8|7:30 P.M. A GALA RECEPTION FOLLOWS
MISSIONS MOMENT Laundered Money One of my regular chores around the house is doing the laundry. Needless to say, it’s easier than when we had three children at home. Somewhere near my washer and dryer, I keep a dish to collect “pocket treasures” that were overlooked when clothes are dumped into the hamper. One of the most frequent goodies that fill my dish are coins. Often I find them in my dryer at the end of the cycle: those special ones are my “laundered money.” I allow them to accrue until I have few dollars. It’s sort of my secret stash. This morning as I was collecting and sorting things on my daily trail to the kitchen, I noticed that my laundered money had filled its container. It was mostly pennies, but I counted them and donated them to our STOP HUNGER NOW bank on the dining table. It amounted to $.44 cents. As I added this small donation, I thought that this little handful of pennies can feed four people one nourishing meal. It is mind stretching to realize that a bit of change can feed a hungry person or family. My challenge for you today is: Look in hidden places for treasures that can make a difference. What have you hidden in your house? How about your life? What can you find today that could contribute to making change for even one child of God you don’t even know?
THANK YOU: WE WON! This year’s Super Bowl of Caring/Scouting for Food Sunday was a resounding success. BSA troop 442 delivered 774 pounds of food to Rowan Helping Ministries on behalf of First UM Church. Not only did they deliver the food, but they also restocked the shelves in the community pantry-a true labor of love. The challenge from our UM brothers & sisters in Denver, CO, resulted in a collection of 636,891 food items plus 177,000 pounds of potatoes from gleaning projects of the Society of St. Andrew. The Denver area churches collected 360,664 items from over 140 sites in Colorado and several western states. Congratulations to PANTHER fans for winning the challenge and to the Broncos in their win in the football game. To the Panthers: Thanks for an exciting season, we’re very proud to have you as our home team!
MARCH DATES -Mark March 8, 2015, for a special BBQ meal at First Presbyterian Church benefiting Meals on Wheels, Rowan. This is their yearly fundraiser. Tickets/Meals are $8.00 per plate, including BBQ, Baked Beans, Slaw, bread and homemade cake slice. Food will be served from 11:00 am until 6:30 pm. See Beverly Gobble: beverlypg@aol.com. How about purchasing a few tickets and gifting them to a friend, office pal or even a stranger on the street? “Pay it forward.”
APRIL DATES -Begin getting your legs warmed up for the annual UMW 5K Run/Walk for Missions. This year’s event will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 3, at 2:00 pm. -Plans for our Day of Serving, Saturday April 16 are coming together. Along with the STOP HUNGER NOW food packaging event in the fellowship hall, there will be other opportunities for hands on mission projects that will make a difference here in Salisbury.
Taffy Jordan Mission Team 2016
MARCH CALENDAR SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
28
29
1
8:30 AM Worship Service 9:45 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship 5:30 PM Youth 5:30 PM Club 45 6:00 PM Unity Service at First Presbyterian
10:00 AM With These Hands 10:30 AM UMW Board Meeting 5:30 PM Beginners Running Class 6:00 PM Cub Scouts 6:00 PM Girl Scouts
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WEDNESDAY
SATURDAY 5
10:00 AM Staff Meeting 2PM Bulletin Deadline 7:00 PM AA 8:00 PM Alanon 6:00 PM SPRC 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
7
8
9
2PM Bulletin Deadline 5:00PM Choristers 5:30PM Midweek Meal 6:30PM Go Fish! 6:30PM Midweek Meditation/Ash Wednesday 7:30PM Chancel Choir
7:00 AM Men's Prayer Breakfast 6:30 PM MOMS Meeting 6:30 PM RHM Supper 7:00 PM AA 8:00 PM Alanon
11
12
13
14
15
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 5:30PM Midweek Meal 6:30PM Go Fish! 6:30PM Midweek Meditation 7:30PM Chancel Choir
16
17
7:00 PM AA 7:00 PM Mission Bridge Club
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19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Palm Sunday 8:30 AM Worship 9:30 AM Palm Sunday Breakfast 9:45 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship 5:30 PM Youth
10:00 AM With These Hands 6:00 PM Girl Scouts
10:00 AM Staff Meeting 2PM Bulletin Deadline 6:00 PM Autusm 4:30PM Novice Choir 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 Maundy Thursday Service 7:00 PM AA 8:00 PM Alanon
12:00 PM Good Friday Service 7:00 PM AA
10:00 AM Music Rehearsal 7:00 PM AA
27
28
29
31
1
2
Easter Sunday 7:00 AM Sunrise Service 8:30 AM Worship 9:45 AM Sunday School--Backwards Easter Egg Hunt 11:00 AM Worship
10:30 AM UMW Board Meeting 6:00 PM Girl Scouts
10:00 AM Staff Meeting 2PM Bulletin Deadline
7:00 PM AA 8:00 PM Alanon
7:00 PM AA
7:00 PM AA
8:30 AM Worship 9:45 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship 5:30 PM Club 45 5:30 PM Youth
10:00 AM Naomi Circle 6:00 PM Girl Scouts 7:00 PM Eve Circle
10:00 AM With These Hands 6:00 PM Girl Scouts
10:00 AM Staff Meeting 11:00 AM Methodist Connection 6:00 PM Trustees Meeting
30
3
FRIDAY 4
8:30 AM Worship 9:45 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship 12:00 PM Salisbury Youth
2
THURSDAY
10
7:00 AM RHM Breakfast 7:00 PM AA 7:00 PM AA
8:30 AM Girl Scout Training 7:00 PM AA
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MARCH BIRTHDAYS 1st
Reid Leonard Nancy Rudd Robert Meyers Isabelle Goodwin Kelsie Crider
2nd
Janet Parker Frances Johnson Virginia Wilber Judy Doby Joseph Clark David Austin
3rd
Jill Duggan Bob Johnsen Faith Hager
4th
Barbara Safley Walter Maxwell
5th
6th
7th
Hilda Pyatt William Douglas
8th
Kerry Kribbs Katherine Miller Sarah Hensley Jeffrey Todd Lineberry
9th
10th
Donald Carter, Jr. James G. Hudson, III. Linda Bowman Shelley Cross George Ragsdale Jarrett Steven Bradshaw Alexandra Warren
17th
Jamie Webb Norman Clark, III. Troy Dibley
18th
Van Kelly
19th
Gwen Pendleton Robbie Ladd Ann Morris Jessica Watson
20th
John Hanford Linda Brown
21st
Harriet Murphy Brenda Newman James Maxwell Parker Katie Bosch Dudley Johnsen
11th 12th
Taffy Jordan
Steven Martin Mark Beymer Kelly Callahan Fisher Thomas Allen Jacob Hinson Colby Daniel Rocco
13th
Ed Lutz Julia Baker Robin Safrit Katherine Zimmerman
Leland Moore Jeff Schoch Jennifer Newman Casey Gouge
15th
14th
16th
Dortha Chuber Nettie Noble Jo Ann Smith Susan Whitaker
22nd
23rd
Cherathee Hager
24th
Carolyn Peck William Barber Alex Grenoble
Annie Joe Ragsdale
HOLY WEEK Palm Sunday Breakfast at 9:15am on Sunday, March 20th. Midweek Meal and Meditation begins at 5:30 on Wednesday, March 23rd. Maundy Thursday Service at 7:00pm on Thursday, March 24th. Good Friday Service at 12:00pm on Friday, March 25th. Easter Sunrise Service at 7:00am on Easter Sunday, March 27th. Backwards Easter Egg Hunt at 9:15am on Easter Sunday. Easter Worship at 8:30 and 11:00am on Easter Sunday. page 13
Martha Miller Benjamin McCubbins Phillip Maness Robert Egloff Jacob Goodnight
24th
Polly Smith Sonja Summers
25th
Gerry Spencer Shully Storey Lacey Mastro
26th
Bill Ragsdale Deborah Carter Katie Menees
27th
Glenn Moore Allison Robinson Elizabeth Shafer Brooke Busby Meredith Smith
28th
Midji Bost Nancy Kirkman Boyd Watts Kay McCartney Howard Douglas
29th
Richard Smith Sarah Ashley Morris Adrienne Howe
30th
Barbara Senter
31st
Katherine Goodman
A THANK YOU! Dear FUMC, Thank you for all the love you showed me during my hospital stay, surgery, and recovery. The cards, flowers, food, and prayers were sincerely appreciated. I am so proud to be a part of this Church. I love all of you! Your sister in Christ, Ann Morris
What does PRAYER mean to you? “Prayer is the one type of communication that is the life line to God giving us assurance of hope and peace. This line is never too busy to list to my prayers for others and me. -Carmen
CONTACT US CHURCH STAFF The Reverend Doctor Mark Conforti Mrs. Becca Blackmon Mr. Matthew Brown Mr. Murl Leazer Mrs. Christine Maloney 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 Administrative Assistant 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