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REMARKS T
he Magi traveled a far distance to discover the greatest gift ever given!
Consider other great discoveries made in recent history: • Marie Curie with radioactive waves • Thomas Edison’s incandescent light • The Gold Rush of the 1840s Most noteworthy scientific discoveries come about when a focused intellect perseveres through the impossible. January 6th is Epiphany this year, the day after the twelve-day celebration of Christmas (or, in some liturgical calendars, the twelfth day of the Christmas season). The English word “Epiphany” comes from the Greek word epiphaneia, which means “appearing” or “revealing.” Epiphany focuses on God’s self-revelation in Christ. On this day, some Christian traditions pay special attention to the visit of the Magi. Other traditions focus on the baptism of Jesus, especially the voice from heaven that identifies Jesus as God’s Son. In either case, the emphasis is upon God making himself known to the world through Jesus, the divine Son. The theological essence of Epiphany is found in 2 Timothy 1:10: “And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.” If you were reading this verse in Greek, you’d find the word epiphaneia where we have “appearing.” God has made “all of this” plain to us through the epiphany of Christ. In Peace and Love, Pastor Mark
An Opportunity to Serve
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e have an opportunity for you to serve on a monthly basis to connect our homebound members to the life of the church through serving communion. The bread and the cup is offered as an extension of our table after we experience communion to those who are unable to attend worship. All people are invited to experience the love and grace Christ offers at the table. If you are willing to serve on a monthly basis, please call the church office.
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Save the date
March 9
P reaching in the morning
Moderator for “What’s the Difference: A Panel Discussion” that afternoon for the church and community
Rev. Kevin Wright Minister of Education, The Riverside Church in New York City.
The Rev. Kevin Wright is an ordained elder from the Baltimore Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church. Kevin formerly served as the Protestant Chaplain at Georgetown Law Center and Medical Center, and has worked in large congregations in Charlotte, NC and Washington D.C. Kevin is a native of Chicago and is a graduate of Duke Divinity School where he received his M.Div. degree with a focus on American Religious History and Christian Ethics. He has extensive experience working in the area of Christian formation, social justice ministries, and pastoral care.
@ FIRST JANUARY 4
No MidWeek at First. Enjoy your time with family and friends!
JANUARY 11
Win It In A Minute with Pat; Join us for fun, laughter and community building!
JANUARY 18
Meal only.
JANUARY 25
“Travels with Austin-Healey” by Linda and Carl Brown
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SUNDAY SEMINARY FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | SALISBURY
SUNDAY, JAN. 29 | 9:45 AM | FELLOWSHIP HALL The Rev. Dr. Ken J. Walden Associate Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Hood Theological Seminary Ken Walden is an ordained elder/clergy-member of the California Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. He is a Chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserves (USAFR). Before coming to Hood Theological Seminary in 2014, Dr. Walden served as a Senior Advisor to the Wounded Warrior Program within the Chaplains Religious Enrichment Development Operation (CREDO) for the Department of Defense in Washington, DC. Prior to joining Hood’s faculty, Ken pastored churches in North Carolina, Michigan, and California. He contributes a column entitled “Walden’s Words” for the United Methodist Reporter. He is the author of three books, Practical Theology for Church Diversity: A Guide for Clergy and Congregations; Challenges Faced by Iraq War Reservists and The Families: A Soul Care Approach for Chaplains and Pastors; and A Pastor’s Poetry. Dr. Walden is also Director of Supervised Ministry and Director of United Methodist Studies at Hood.
coming soon APRIL 30, 2017 The Rev. Dr. Vergel L. Lattimore
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President, Professor of Pastoral Psychology and Counseling at Hood Theological Seminary
MISSIONS MOMENTS
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he song Seasons of Love by Jonathan Larson, begins the musical RENT. Its haunting bars ask “Five hundred twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes*, What is the proper way to qualify the value of a year in human life?” It’s a question for each of us to ponder as we venture into 2017. *(The number of minutes in a normal calendar year that isn’t divisible by 4.) How do YOU plan to spend your next 525,600 minutes? What are you going to do to care for a child? There are so many young ones who need your love and care. One Church One Child and Isenberg Elementary School offer opportunities to reach out to a child in need. Our own Child Development Center needs volunteers to nurture little ones. Camp Discovery is a week of one to one mentoring at Camp Mt. Shepherd. Jesus came to earth as a child. What if we nurtured each newborn child as the potential Savior of the world? What will you do with your 525,600 minutes to care for a child in 2017? How will you use your time to help the poor? Jesus calls us to be “fishers of people.” He calls us to share and serve the “least and lost.” Come with FUMC to Rowan Helping Ministries or Meals on Wheels to serve up generous helpings of food embellished with your own brand of Christian Love. How much of your 525,600 minutes will you give away in 2017?
Physical hunger is only the beginning. What about the “poor in spirit?” How much time will you invest in 2017 to lead someone to Christ? How many minutes can you spare to make a new friend? You have “a story to tell to the Nations” and a new song to sing. There is someone out there who is lonely or lost. Someone needs your hand to hold and your shoulder to lean upon. God has put love in your heart not only to cherish, but to share. How much of your 525,600 minutes will you share in 2017? How much of yourself will you spend to relieve the world’s suffering? So many people are living in dangerous places in abject poverty. Will you support and help with another STOP HUNGER NOW food packaging event on April 29th when we will package 40,000 meals? We are always told to save for a “rainy day.” Well, those rains came this fall. FUMC is on schedule to send lots of work teams to help with cleaning up and rebuilding eastern North Carolina. It will take many months and lots of love to put their world back together. I hope you will put some minutes aside in 2017 to invest in a new beginning for our neighbors. The question is “What is the proper way to qualify the value of a year in human life?” Our Seasons of Love begins in 2017 with your “Five hundred twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes.” Here is your clock.
FLOWER MINISTRY
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hat a wonderful opportunity to share the message of caring and cheer to our church members who are sick, homebound, or just in need of a gesture of kindness from our faith community. The flower ministry is certainly a vital extension of our congregational care, and it only happens through the giving of your time, talents and energies to deliver beautiful bouquets from the flowers that have graced our altar on Sunday morning. The Flower Ministry is in need of volunteers for the 2nd and 4th Mondays to deliver this kindness to members of our congregation. If you can help, please contact Carole Young at (704) 639-0847.
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oms of Infants-Pre-Schoolers are invited to join us Thursday, January 12 in the Seekers Classroom. We will meet from 6:30-7:30 pm to make plans for the new year and meet all our new babies! Please join us for hot cider, hot chocolate and a short Bible study. Bring your Bible and another Mom and join us! Childcare provided. We meet the second Thursday of each month.
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PRAYER A TEAM
re you interested in praying for the needs of our congregation? We want you to be part of our prayer team. It only takes a few moments to pray for someone and notify someone else of a need. If you would like to become part of this ministry, please call Beverly Poole (704-279-5189; beverlypoole@gmail. com) and let us know if a phone call, text, or email is the best way for you to participate.
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e are a caring and loving church and we want to know how we can be supportive of you and your needs. Please don’t hesitate to speak to Pastor Mark or Pastor Erin Michelle if you need prayer or there are any other ways we could be of assistance. There are a couple of ways you as the church can participate in the care of one another: • On the tables in the narthex, tower room, and Fisher Street lobby, there will be prayer sheets with needs listed for people who would like prayer. • In the sanctuary pews, there are prayer cards available for you to write your prayer requests. Please fill these out and either place them in the offering plate as it is being passed or give to the pastor as you exit the sanctuary. You may also contact the church office if you have a prayer request.
• Also, when you fill out the attendance pads, there is a place at the end to check if you desire a call from the pastor. Take a minute to fill out the attendance pads so we know you are here and can meet any needs you may have. Thank you for all you do in our church to love one another just as God has called us to love!
Are you looking for a Sunday school class/ small group with people in their 40s and 50s? This new class is for you!
Pathfinders Gathering 6
JANUARY 14 | 6:30 PM Home of Chris and Amy Foote 1077 North Lilac Lane | Salisbury, NC 28147 Please bring an hors d’oeuvre to share! R.S.V.P. Amy Foote at teamnc@carolina.rr.com
YOUTH MINISTRY
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alisbury Youth will return after a brief holiday hiatus. Beginning again on January 8 we will meet for our Sunday night Gathering. Come along and join us as we begin 2017! All youth grades 6-12 are invited to be part of the our fun Gatherings Sunday nights at 5:30 pm, and during special activities.
Trips and Upcoming Events Confirmation 2017 With a new year, comes a new group of students starting on a journey to discover more about who God is and who they are. Confirmation is an opportunity for middle school students to learn about the Church, ask deeper questions about faith, and at the end of the journey – join the church! The journey will begin mid-January, and conclude with Confirmation Sunday on May 21. While Confirmation is an opportunity for 7th grade students, the journey only gets better when the whole church is involved. This year we have 18 students in our class, a team of teachers, and mentors to guide the students. We also need people praying for our students. Please keep our students in mind as you pray in the coming weeks and months.
Salisbury Youth/Milford Hills Lock-In On February 3, we will once again join up with the youth of Millford Hills UMC for a Lock-In! Mark the date on your calendar and let us know you’re planning to attend; you won’t want to miss this all night adventure. Come be a part of the fun! Email jenni@fumcsalisbury.org to sign up for the Lock-In.
Christmas Shopping
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uring Advent Salisbury Youth put their creative talents together to bring a series of dramatic readings on the First Christmas to Midweek@First, and as part of the staging we created a very special prop. A mosaic made of paper and modpodge (craft glue) on canvas, the Star of Bethlehem’s image was displayed on stage behind the students portraying Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. This star was the work of over a dozen students, and completed over several weeks at our Sunday night Gatherings. The mosaic pieces in yellow and blue were taken from advertisements for Christmas gifts. After it’s creation we used the image to discuss how easy it is to get pulled into the whirlwind of activity during Christmas, and miss out on God’s bigger picture of love and redemption.
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CHILDREN’S MINISTRY Calling all 4th-5th Grade Pre-Teens We meet at 5:30 pm every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month
Here’s what’s happening January 8!!
January 22 - Come enjoy a fun afternoon with your family! Chilly Willy!!! Sunday, January 22 Children’s Ministry heads to …….. Ray’s Splash Planet Watch for Details!
Join us on Sunday mornings @ 9:45 am on the second floor of the education building to meet the teachers Jesus met during His life and what we can learn from Him today!
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FUMC AFTERSCHOOL
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ith Thanksgiving and Christmas coming to an end, we are looking forward to January! We have winter crafts planned, some winter and snow books to read and a day planned at the end of January for a “pjs and hot chocolate day.” We’ve done that in past years and the children get very excited about it! The children have been working hard on coloring some beautiful pictures to send to church and community members who are not able to be out much. They know from doing this in the past how much people appreciate their thoughtfulness.
The children are continuing to work hard on daily homework, projects, reading and using flash cards and other educational games. We’ve been reading some fun books like How the Manx Cat Lost Its Tail, a legend and a Bible story about Noah’s Ark that goes along with it. We’ve read some historical fiction books about Squanto and Harriet Tubman. The children enjoy the stories and we always have good discussions about how things are alike and different during other time periods compared to today. We ask and answer questions and sometimes predict what will happen in the stories. They have very good imaginations!
Anny is gathering some pretty fall leaves.
These two young ladies always work hard!
Everyone worked hard on the pictures that will be mailed soon to shut- ins to brighten their day.
“While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.” – Angela Schwindt
Collin is an artist!
Vickie Wood, Director First United Methodist Church Child Development Center cdc@fumcsalisbury.org | 704-636-3121 x110
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THE METHODIST CONNECTION
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“ome and enjoy a visit to Sparks Circus. Terry Holt, retired educator and administrator, President of Rowan History Club, will take us on this special visit. We will share a catered lunch of barbecue chicken and the trimmings. Cost is $8.”
OUR TRIP TO BILLY GRAHAM’S “THE COVE” The Beautiful Chapel nestled in the great outdoors
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CHAPEL CHANGES
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oming soon there will be some exciting changes to our church’s Chapel! The Chapel was built along with the Education Building in the early 1950s. This addition allowed our church to grow tremendously over the years, and we are so thankful to the church members who had the vision to expand sixty years ago.
pews will be removed in favor of chairs which can be arranged in rows for worship services, or gathered around tables for discussion. At some point new flooring will be laid, and the walls will be painted. The space will still be a Chapel, but it can also be used as classroom space.
Over the years the Education Building has continued to be used by many groups, and in many configurations. The Chapel, however, has not been put to use as frequently. The way that it is arranged is very nice, but it is specific to one purpose-small worship services. While there is occasionally a need for a small worship space (for instance the Longest Night service during Advent) the arrangement of the room limits the potential of the room.
These plans will take some time to finalize, but we are very excited that the first step of removing the pews will happen soon. This change will come just in time for our Confirmation class to use the room. With 18 students in the class, the chapel will make the perfect meeting room.
The Trustees have approved a reconfiguration of our Chapel space to make it more multi-functional. The
Beyond Confirmation class, a more multi-purpose room will be a great opportunity for many groups within the church. If you are interested in owning one of the pews please contact Jane Creech (704)633-2675 or Barbara Senter (704)213-6498.
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FUMC PRESCHOOL
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ur FUMC Preschool has had an amazing school year! We have loved, learned and laughed with 45 terrific children from our church and community families. It is now time to offer our program for the 2017-18 school year. I know it is hard to believe it’s here already! We will have early registration, which is exclusive, to our currently enrolled families, church member families and then to siblings of children who are
currently enrolled or who have completed our program. This will begin on January 17-20th. Our program will then be open to the general public on January 24th. A deposit of $75 holds their spot for 2017-18. Two yearolds must be 2 by August 31, 2017. If you have any questions, please call Lindsay Wineka (704) 798-4902. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
HERITAGE MOMENT Caring for our Members and our Community
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n the mid-1860s, people all over the country - whether Northern, Southern, black, white, rich or poor were recovering from the devastation of the Civil War / The War of Northern Aggression. Meeting minutes and other records of business conducted by the church, as well as, personal accounts of the time have helped form a picture of how our church persevered and continued to grow. Rev. Oscar Brent was the pastor during these Reconstruction years. In late 1866, “a committee of three ladies was appointed and asked to ascertain and report to the stewards of this church the names of such member as are in necessitous circumstances requiring relief from the church.” 150 Years Ago during a meeting in January, 1867 – “a Poor Fund was established, with R. R. Crawford as treasurer, to meet the critical needs of persons in the community. A committee of eight women was to be formed to see to the
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application of this fund to needy cases. In March (1867) the treasurer reported $6.00 on hand in the fund. Over the next month $4.60 was added to it, and $8.00 of that total spent. By November, expenditures were $17.50 out of a fund of $21.55.” Thus began more formal efforts to assist members of our church and community in times of need. Today, the mission and outreach programs of First United Methodist Church continue throughout our community, our country, and the world. Each one should use whatever gifts he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
JANUARY CALENDAR SUNDAY
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8:30 AM Worship Service 9:45 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship Service 12:00 PM Choir Reception 5:30 PM Youth Sunday Night Meetings
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8:30 AM Worship 9:45 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship
Service
MONDAY
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OFFICE CLOSED
6:00 PM Girl Scouts 6:30 PM Hannah Circle - Parlor 7:00 PM Boy Scouts
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6:00 PM Girl Scouts 7:00 PM Boy Scouts 7:00 PM Missions Meeting
4:00 PM A Disciple’s
Heart
5:30 PM Club 45 5:30 PM Youth Sunday
Night Meetings
15 8:30 AM Worship Service 9:45 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship Service 3:00 PM Homebound Communion Training 4:00 PM A Disciple’s Heart 5:30 PM Youth Sunday Night Meetings
22 8:30 AM Worship 9:45 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship 2:00 PM Worship
16 OFFICE CLOSED 6:00 PM Girl Scouts 7:00 PM Boy Scouts
23 6:00 PM Girl Scouts 7:00 PM Boy Scouts
Committee 4:00 PM A Disciple’s Heart 5:30 PM Club 45 5:30 PM Youth Sunday Night Meetings
DEDICATION
TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY SUNDAY
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10:00 AM Staff Meeting 2:00 PM Chrismon Class 6:00 PM SPRC
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10:00 AM Staff Meeting 12:00 PM Methodist Connection 2:00 PM Chrismon Class 6:00 PM Trustees Meeting
2:00 PM
Deadline for Bulletin announcements 5:00 PM Choristers 6:00 PM Youth Bell Choir 6:15 PM The Casting Queens 6:30 PM Adult Bell Choir 7:30 PM Chancel Choir
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2:00 PM
Deadline for Bulletin announcements 5:00 PM Choristers 5:30 PM Mid-Week at First 6:00 PM Youth Bell Choir 6:15 PM The Casting Queens 6:30 PM Adult Bell Choir 7:30 PM Chancel Choir
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20
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7:00 PM AA 8:00 PM Alanon
6:30 PM Adult Discipleship Meeting 6:30 PM M.O.M.S. 6:30 PM RHM Supper 7:00 PM AA 8:00 PM Alanon
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10:00 AM Staff Meeting 2:00 PM Chrismon Class 6:00 PM Autism Society Meeting 6:15 PM Stephen Ministry
2:00 PM
6:00 PM Church Council Meeting 7:00 PM AA 8:00 PM Alanon
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10:00 AM Staff Meeting 11:00 AM Volunteer Luncheon 2:00 PM Chrismon Class 5:30 PM Family Crisis Council Board
2:00 PM
12:30 PM Friends at First - offsite 7:00 PM AA 8:00 PM Alanon
Deadline for Bulletin announcements 3:00 PM Archives Committee 5:00 PM Choristers 5:30 PM Mid-Week at First 6:00 PM Youth Bell Choir 6:15 PM The Casting Queens 6:30 PM Adult Bell Choir 7:30 PM Chancel Choir
Deadline for Bulletin announcements 5:00 PM Choristers 5:30 PM Mid-Week at First 6:00 PM Finance
SATURDAY
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12:00 PM Deadline for Ecclesia articles 7:00 PM AA
6:00 AM RHM Breakfast 7:00 PM AA
7:00 PM AA 7:00 PM Mission Bridge Club
27 7:00 PM AA
7:00 PM AA
6:30 PM Pathfinders Gathering at the Foote home 7:00 PM AA
7:00 PM AA
28 6:30 AM Boy Scouts-old bus 5:30 PM Girl Scouts - Van 7:00 PM AA
6:00 PM
Youth Bell Choir 6:15 PM
The Casting Queens
29 30 31 6:30 AM Boy Scoutsold bus 8:30 AM Worship 9:45 AM 5th Sunday Seminart Series-Adult SS 9:45 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship 4:00 PM A Disciple’s Heart 5:30 PM Youth Sunday Night Meetings
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FRIDAY
6:00 PM CDC, After-School, Summer Day Camp Board 6:00 PM Girl Scouts 7:00 PM Boy Scouts
10:00 AM Staff Meeting 2:00 PM Chrismon Class
6:30 PM
Adult Bell Choir 7:30 PM
Chancel ChoirQueens 6:30 PM
Adult Bell Choir 7:30 PM
Chancel Choir
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JANUARY BIRTHDAYS ________________________________
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Hazel Kirk 11 Alisha Mastro
Danny Sullivan 19 ________________________________ Melissa Brinkley 20 Norman Clark, Jr.
Robert Anderson Amber Braddy Eulalia Conrad Andy Storey Nancy J. Zimmerman ________________________________
Lois Poteat Cecelia Strickland ________________________________
Nancy Sherriff 12 Jean West
2________________________________ ________________________________ Meyerhoeffer Kim Grenoble 3 Nolan 13 Sophie Wainright Rikki Spencer ________________________________
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Chad Cross Beth Yelvington ________________________________
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Brielle Dibley Ellis Hartsell Jenny Nussman ________________________________
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Britni Branson Spencer Storey ________________________________
Edith Holshouser 7________________________________ Goodwin 8 Andrew Kenneth Ingram Laura Johsnon ________________________________
Katelyn Storey Brad Williams ________________________________
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Joel Goodwin, III Scott Johnson ________________________________
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Lisa Hinson John Horn Kyle Rocco ________________________________
Coleman Brady 16 Evan Koontz
Mary Anne Laningham Greg West
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Kahlil Cross Wayne Hager ________________________________
William Stanback 9________________________________ Jim Molitor 18 Nelson White Shirley Disseler 10 ________________________________ Wendy Douglas ________________________________
Eli Robinson Rob Watts ________________________________
Olive Robinson 21 ________________________________ Henley Agbuya 22 Kathleen Allen Deona Doby Betty Wilhelm ________________________________
Liz Snyder 23 ________________________________ James Martin 24 ________________________________ Laura Maphis 25 ________________________________ Frederick Bachl 26 Cress Goodnight Gracie Lineberry Sara Maness ________________________________
Roland Fowler 27 Wesley Ludwig William Newman Mike Shuler ________________________________
Wayne Cline 28 ________________________________ Corey Basinger 29 Dot Peacock ________________________________
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Jeffrey Insley Floyd Jordan Susan Maxwell Tegue Rowland
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James Allen, III Trish Dufresne
________________________________
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The staff of First United Methodist Church expresses its sincerest gratitude for the generous Christmas love offering received in December. We are grateful for the bountiful blessings of being partners in ministry with this great church.
—Becca, Christine, Jenni, Mark, Matthew, Murl, and Pat
A fun time was had by all at the Christmas Luncheon given by the SPRC Committee on December 8th celebrating and honoring the wonderful staff and teachers of FUMC.
CHURCH STAFF The Reverend Doctor Mark Conforti.............................. Senior Pastor Mrs. Becca Blackmon............................................................... Business Administrator Mr. Matthew Michael Brown............................................... Director of Music and Organist Mr. Murl Leazer............................................................................ Building Superintendent Mrs. Christine Maloney........................................................... Administrative Assistant Mrs. Pat McKim........................................................................... Director of Children’s Ministry Ms. Jenni Fogt............................................................................... Youth Director Mrs. Donna Frederick .............................................................. Lead Teacher of After School Program Mrs. Lindsay Wineka ................................................................ Director of Preschool Mrs. Vicki Wood.......................................................................... Director of Child Development Center Ms. Beth Yelvington.................................................................. Lead Teacher of Summer Camp Program
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ECCLESIA Published by:
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 217 SOUTH CHURCH STREET SALISBURY, NORTH CAROLINA 28144
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