What's Happening - January 2023

A PUBLICATION OF HAYMOUNT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

FROM THE PASTOR

Haymount United Methodist Church

1700 Fort Bragg Road Fayetteville, NC 28303 (910) 484-0181 FAX: (910) 484-9805 www.haymountumc.com

Pastor Rev. Allen Bingham allenbingham@haymountumc.com

Minister of Communications and Facilities Rev. Donald M. Warren donaldwarren@haymountumc.com

Director of Children and Family Ministries Jen Rabon jan.rabon@haymountumc.com

Director of Traditional Music and Organist Wes Lockfaw weslockfaw@haymountumc.com

Director of Youth Ministries Drew Ellis humcyouth@haymountumc.com

Director of Contemporary Worship Steve Goatley steve@haymountumc.com

Director of Special Projects Karen Barman karen.barkman@haymountumc.com

Director of Finance Nicole Andre nicole.andre@haymountumc.com

Sisters and Brothers in Christ: Greetings in the Name of Jesus Christ the Lord: the One Who Is, Was, and Is to Come!

The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the hungry, To release the prisoners, To rebuild the nations, To bring peace among the brothers. To make music in the heart.

As we lean into a new year, I invite you to ponder this poetic wisdom from the mystic Howard Thurman:

The Work of Christmas

When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock,

While praying these words, I invite our attention in the New Year to vows we take as Christians and United Methodists. We will renew these vows as part of our worship on Sunday, January 8, 2023. We will remember how Jesus went to the Jordan to be baptized by John and remember that in our baptism, we are made one with Christ and one with each other.

First, I need to apologize for an error in my note about our Annual Conference's vote to allow the disaffiliation of 249 churches from the North Carolina Conference.

. (Continued, p. 2)

Deadline for Next Newsletter

February 2023 submission deadline: January 15, 2023

Please send submissions to Donald Warren at donaldwarren@haymountumc.com

Mission: Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world

Rev. Allen Bingham Lead Pastor

Continued from Page 1

I mistakenly read the minutes from our January 2020 church council meeting as a vote of affirmation of the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation proposal to be submitted at the 2020 General Conference. The church council discussed the proposal but took no vote either affirming or disaffirming the proposal. The consensus of the church council was that we would continue working, walking, and talking together at Haymount United Methodist Church. As you will remember, the COVID pandemic crisis entered, and the General Conference will finally convene in Charlotte in 2024. As we move toward that future conference, I commit to helping us keep abreast of emerging proposals. The one thing I need to repeat for all of us is that only the General Conference speaks for The United Methodist Church; everything else is just noise.

Several weeks ago, I quoted Mike Slaughter's contention that "Jesus Christ is Lord and everything else is a conversation." This statement reminds us that Christ is at the center of every conversation. As we begin this new year, I invite you to remember that in baptism, we proclaim, "He is Lord, He is Lord, He is risen from the dead and he is Lord. Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord" (The United Methodist Hymnal, 1984, p. 177).

FROM THE PASTOR

We further promise in our vows as Christians and United Methodists to offer the church our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness. I invite your meditations on the following scriptures:

We offer prayers for the one church: "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:4-6).

We offer each other our presence within the church: "Though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken" (Ecclesiastes 4:12). (Continued on page 3)

Vision: Haymount United Methodist Church exists to make disciples by bringing hope and healing to today’s families

FROM THE PASTOR

Continued from Page 2

We offer our gifts to the church's mission and ministry: "Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:7-8).

We offer our service to the church's mission and ministry: "Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen" (Ephesians 3:20-21).

We offer our witness to Christ working within us: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

In the coming year, we are moving deeper into reinvigorating our ministry in Haymount and beyond. As we do this, we need you! We need your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness. As we touch the baptismal waters again and renew our vows together, may we experience the power of being one body, empowered by one Spirit, offering one hope, serving one Lord, living one faith, celebrating one baptism, and worshiping one God and Father of us all. When we do this together, we lean into the work of Christmas and make music in our hearts. Let's sing together: "He is Lord!"

Grace and Peace, Allen Bingham, Pastor

HUMC Endowment - Planned Giving

Planned Giving and Endowments are wonderful ways to support HUMC now and forever . . .

As we continue our Planned Giving: Leaving your Legacy program, we hope you are learning more about Legacy Giving through our videos in church, church bulletin inserts and newsletter articles. Haymount has been so blessed by those who have made Planned Giving gifts, either through their will or as a gift over several years, to benefit the future of our church’s needs and ministries.

Marlin Stewart is a key example. He loved kids! He left a Planned Gift in his will to create an endowment fund for camperships, preschool scholarships and needs of underprivileged children. This fund was started with $2,000 in 1987, and received other donations of about $17,000 over the years. This fund has distributed more than $44,400 for children in need and currently is valued at about $38,000. What an amazing investment developed from Marlin’s initial donation of $2,000 for underprivileged children.

Ruth Jones left money in her will for an endowment to be used for the maintenance and upkeep of our church grounds and facilities. This fund was established in 2015 with a total deposit of $100,266, primarily from Ruth, and it received other donations over the years. Though a newer fund, it has already distributed about $36,000 to HUMC, and is valued now at around $124,000.

These Planned Gifts, either through a member’s will or as a multi-year gift, have so enriched our church. And their gifts will benefit our church now and forever!! Since these funds are endowments, only the income is distributed to the church, and the balance will continue to grow every year. The annual income distribution is usually 5% of the account balance. The original gift stays intact.

HUMC has endowment funds that benefit our missions, facilities and general needs. If anyone is interested in more information about Planned Giving and Endowments for HUMC, please contact the church office, 910-484-0181, with your name and phone number. Someone from our Endowment Committee will contact you. Thanks!

Lucy Jones, Endowment Committee

ENDOWMENTS

Vision: Haymount United Methodist Church exists to make disciples by bringing hope and healing to all

November

CHURCH

HUMC is fortunate and blessed every year with the support of members in the loving, caring, generous gifts of time and money. This year many people have been touched by fellowship, visits, cards, flowers etc (as the commercial says PRICELESS!). In addition, endowment and designated funds have provided well over $70,000 above the operating budget, for missions and ministries of the Church. Thank you Haymount for all you do for God’s great Kingdom!

The Happiest New Year to all ! God bless you and God Bless HUMC.

Lynda Clark, Finance Chairperson and your Finance committee.

Thank you to everyone who graciously donated food to Urban Ministries. They were very excited with all of our donations. -Laurie Doherty for the Mission Committee

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Memorials and Honoraria

Current as of November 22, 2022

Memorials have been given to God's glory and in memory of:

Swayn Hamlet, by Rick & Brenda Booth, Margaret & Robert Birke, Franklin & Jo Beth Johnson, Wes & Lucy Jones, Kim & Mark Hurley Elizabeth Keever, Graham & Katy Blanton, Bobbie Redding, Woody & Carole Wells, Bob & Genny Lou Exum, John & Margaret Wheeler

Mike Warren, by Kim & Mark Hurley

Guy Mathis, by Ellen Blakely Family Trust, Judith & William Hanks Honoraria have been given to God's glory and in honor of:

Mary Helen Hamlet, by Bobbie Redding

Sherry Phillips, by Perry Olive

January 1

Rita Turner January 2

John Dees Robbie Strickland January 3 Grayson Pope Pat Trujillo January 4

Holden Cameron Dale Brown Kathleen Frisbie Kendall Strickland January 8

Barry Swift Mary Farr Dusty Fry January 9 Hugh Bryan Janet Cameron John Owen Eydie Hammaker January 10 Sandra Taylor January 11 Emily Brown Sarah Turner Rick Mathis January 12 Suzanne Pate January 13 Kelli Canady Susan McGugan Abby Cartrette January 14 Rick Booth Christie Lockhart January 15 Minh Courtney Steve Howard Kendal Draughon Owen Driggers January 16 David Nash January 18 Alex Toman January 19 Peggy Davis January 20 Karen Koonce Edward Tellez Morgan Ross January 21 Morgan Turner Kristan Mathews Mandy Middleton

January 22

Tom Torbett Michael Ramos Dee Dee Stanley Sarah Koonce Shea Oliver Holland Behr Ann Bingham January 23 Dena Lingle Ellen Bowman Nathan Howie Grace Vanias John Pate January 24

Kenneth Cole January 25 Megan Packer Gino Hernandez January 26 Henry Richardson Ina Cartrette January 27 Peyton Miranda Randy Draughon Margaret Lingle Sarah Dempster Brooke Bieniek Benjamin Brookover January 29 Pitt Dickey Drew Kramer Molly Lewis Sue Smith January 30 Carol Lloyd Tricia Everett

BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS

Vision: Haymount United Methodist Church exists to make disciples by bringing hope and healing to all

WHAT’S HAPPENING (USPS 578-080), successor to THE HAY-MOUNT HAPPENINGS, is published monthly by Haymount United Methodist Church. Periodical postage paid at Fayetteville, North Carolina. Postmaster please send address changes to WHAT’S HAPPENING, 1700 Ft Bragg Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28303.

United Women in Faith (UWF)

As we begin 2023, let me share this reflection by Grace Masuka, a UWF Regional Missionary: “The past two or more years of COVID-19 have made me cling to the message in 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “God is faithful. God will not let you be tested beyond your strength…” So true! The whole world got a shock regarding how vulnerable we all are. I lost many friends, family and neighbors. Watching the local and world news became so depressing. In the midst of this, I am reminded that God is faithful and will continue to be faithful. I am comforted to know that God is supreme, caring, just and upright. As traveling became challenging, I relied on zoom, emails, and other modes of media to do work, worship, and to converse with friends and family. God makes a way where there seems to be no way. I give glory to God for being there for us. With all the challenges, God will always be great, and God’s love endures forever”

Can we all relate to what she shares? Hopefully 2023 will be better.

Thank you for your support of UWF projects and trust you will continue your support as we serve desserts at WEF on the fourth Wednesday in January, February, March, and April. Perhaps there will be other projects as well. The proceeds from the past three years will help several HUMC children and youth programs, NC Disaster Relief/UMCOR, Africa support, Methodist Home for Children, Fayetteville Urban Ministry: Find-a-Friend program, Partner’s In Ministry, and Fayetteville Child Advocacy Center. The NCC UWF Quadrennial Theme for 2023 is COURAGE with this scripture: “Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be COURAGEOUS, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13. Let this take us into 2023.

United Methodist Men News

By Mark Fincher

The United Methodist Men had the annual Hubert Willis Barbecue on November 5th in the New Life Center. The United haymountumc.com Women in Faith held a bake sale at the same time, on the same day as the church’s fall garage sale. Over 500 plates were sold, and over $3,000 was made to use for missions and projects. The UMM made contributions of $3,000 to Kentucky Disaster Relief and $5,000 to Moore County Disaster Relief through the North Carolina Conference UMC Disaster Ministries.