Rev. Andrew Chappell
Rev. Andrew Chappell
Senior Pastor
Senior Pastor
achappell@NewnanFUMC.org
achappell@NewnanFUMC.org
W770.253.7400 (x202)
770.253.7400 (x202)
Rev. Connor Bell
Rev. Connor Bell
Associate Pastor
Associate Pastor
cbell@NewnanFUMC.org
cbell@NewnanFUMC.org
770.253.7400 (x208)
770.253.7400 (x208)
hat a glorious morning of Easter worship! The music was transporting, the accompaniment of brass brought a richness to our sounds, the children singing at the 11:00 service was precious, and Pastor Andrew’s sermon offered honest, deep thought and inspiration. As one parishioner said, “that was his best sermon yet!”
At Children’s Moment, two little girls arrived last, carefully selecting their spot on the pew cushion next to Pastor Andrew. I found out later that they are cousins who “love one another dearly.” Even though the girls had their “spot,” throughout the children’s moment, they traveled back and forth to their family on the first row. The girls delighted in their clear, shiny eggs that rattled when they shook them. They weren’t the only ones! Scattered noise from shakers continued to bring joy to the kiddos, giggles from the congregation and reminders from the storyteller to leave them in their lap for just one more minute. The cousins last trip across the wooden floor, the parents offered to “hold the eggs”, so they could listen to the story being told. The story of the empty tomb and Jesus rising finished, the crew of egg holders were invited to exit to children’s church….but in front of me, a scene of tension was developing.
Cousin Obedient was ready to go! She jumped up and turned to Cousin Not-Just-Yet, to find that she was still in the spirit of “cushion sitting.” Cousin Obedient reached out and grabbed Cousin Not-Just-Yet’s hand to give encouragement…and the tug didn’t get her up. Cousin Not-Just-Yet remained steadfast, rooted to her decision. Cousin Obedient was just as insistent that she get up, the parents were beginning to call to them to come! Finally with one grand tug, both girls proceeded to the next place of fun where eggs were surely rattled, songs were sung and stories took seat in their minds.
When we experience these rich times of community, whether with family, friends, in church or laughing together, we are blessed! Memories are made that we can call on later to remind us of happier times and bringing light to harder days. I loved the drama played out in the Cousin moment. Watching the parents off to the side trying desperately to get kiddos to follow instructions—been there done that, have you? I have also been Cousin Not-Just-Yet, having found a good spot and gotten comfortable with the view and the world going on about me. I have also been Cousin Obedient, impatiently trying to move others from rootedness to the next place of promise.
We are all Cousins in this great Family of God! Whether we are encouragers, placeholders or anticipators on the move forward, each has a place in God’s grand family. Give thanks for one another, grab someone’s hand, cheer each other on, and find what good New Thing God has for you in each day.
Peace, Pastor Lisa
HONOR THE SPECIAL WOMEN IN YOUR LIFE with a gift to Wesley Woods. Your gift will provide CHAPLAINS | WELLNESS NURSES | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
CASH, use a pew envelope and designate Wesley Woods.
CHECK, designate Wesley Woods in the “for” line. ONLINE, visit wesleywoods.org/donate or scan the QR code.
MAIL a check made payable to:
Foundation of Wesley Woods 1817 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329 (Designate your church in the “for” line)
WAYS TO GIVE Received YTD $11,715 11,000 10,000 9,000 8,000 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 106.5%
THANK YOU FOR GIVING IT UP FOR LENT!
We raised a total of $11,715, meeting 106.5% of our fundraising goal! The beneficiary of this campaign is Bridging the Gap, a community partner we’re proud to support, who provides support and resources to those in physical and financial need. They serve as a food bank and provide showers and utility assistance. We seek to show love to the marginalized in our community through assisting BTG.
GIVING & ATTENDANCE
Total Tithes/Income: $93,055 Total Expenses: $117,275 Over/(Under): $(24,220) TOTAL BUDGET: $1,677,277 AVG ATTENDANCE 8:30 Worship: 121 11:00 Worship: 297 Children/Nursery: 13 YouTube Live Stream: 104
We thank you for your gracious gifts, which go to our ministries along with local and global partners in mission.
Place cash or checks in the offering plate on Sundays. If you’d like to pay with a credit card, use the QR code or text number below, or visit our website. You can also set up automatically-recurring gifts through your bank.
Contact Owen Lambert for assistance - finance@newnanfumc.org. www.newnanfumc.org/give
Melody Webb
Discipleship Director
mwebb@NewnanFUMC.org
770.253.7400 (x215)
In the month of May, the Church is squarely in the season of Eastertide - a season of 50 days, derived in its length from the fifty days between Passover and Pentecost (which means fiftieth) in Judaism. The original purpose of the Easter season was to continue the formation of new Christians in the faith. Today, this extended season gives us time to rejoice and experience what we mean when we say Christ is risen and that we, as the church, are the body of the Risen Lord. It’s a season for focusing on how we live out the Way, or pattern, Jesus set for us. Basically, it is a season for discipleship.
Discipleship involves those things that we promise to offer the church in our membership vows - our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. Prayers and presence include our spiritual formation and our spiritual practices - namely our commitment to read & study scripture, our regular presence in worship, and our presence with God in prayer.
This season, I encourage you to think about where you are on your journey of faith. What are your growing edges? In what areas can you increase your commitment to living out the hope and joy we claim in Jesus’ resurrection?
If you are looking for that next book to read on your own, consider Believing Into Christ by Natalya A. Cherry - a book that helps us turn our belief into actions that improve our relationships with others and contribute to ‘human flourishing.’
If you are looking for an online devotional, I suggest UMC seminary professor and cancer survivor Kate Bowler’s Eastertide devotional While It Was Yet Dark - giving us the courage to practice hope, even when hope doesn’t seem easy to come by.
If you are looking for a small group or study opportunity, check out our listings below. And if I can help connect you to groups or resources, please let me know.
Wishing you all blessings for this Eastertide!
Melody
Breaking Bread
Wednesdays, Noon (Gathering Room)
Mid-week studies with Rev. Andrew Chappell that focus on the scripture for the upcoming Sunday.
Get Connected with
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL
Martha Circle - Final mtg until Fall 3rd Mondays, 9:45am (M200) Book study using “Moments that Take Your Breath Away” by James Moore.
Mens Prayer Breakfast - Final mtg until Fall 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 8:30am (GR)
Men of all ages are welcome to join for breakfast, prayer, and bible study.
Womens AM Bible Study
Wednesdays, May 7-21, 9:30am (M203) Stand-alone sessions. Bring your bibles! Led by Melody Webb.
Womens PM Bible Study
Wednesdays, May 7-21, 6:30pm (AH) Parables of Jesus. Led by Kelly Stephens.
SUNDAYS 9:45AM-10:45AM
Polly Crowley
“Making sense of the bible”
Friendship
“John: The Gospel of Light and Life”
Henry Kitchens Weekly bible study
Insights
Contemplative Spiritual Practices
The Shepherds
“Half Truths”
Agape
“The Message of Jesus”
Open Hands
“The Will of God”
Abide
“The Will of God”
Life in the Spirit
“The Goodness of God”
Wasn’t Easter Wonderful? We have had a great April. Now we get to have more fun in May! As we approach the end of the school year, we don’t slow down in the Children’s Ministry.
In Sunday School our 3rd through 5th grade will continue on their trip down Route 66. If you have a child this age and would like to join in on the fun, they can jump right in! These children will be exploring the important messages in the books Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, and Job. The 4 year olds through 2nd grade will embark in the exciting stories of Peter. They will be learning about him and some of the very important people he encountered on his journey to teach others about God. Sunday School is Sunday Mornings, 9:45 to 10:45 on the Children’s Floor.
In Children’s Worship (ages 4 to 2nd grade) and Wiggle and Worship (ages 2 and 3), we have been having so much fun learning about how much God loves us. That will not stop in May! We are going to learn about some of God’s promises and how He never ever leaves us! In these two fun classes we wiggle, play, pray, and craft as we learn the lessons that help us grow closer to God! Children’s Worship is on the Children’s Floor. We dismiss children from the Sanctuary in the big church and all children can be picked up upstairs in the Children’s Worship room (stairs are by the Ladies Lounge). Wiggle and Worship also takes place during the 11am service and it is in our nursery in the downstairs of the Parish Hall, in the Preschool. Children ages birth through 3 years old can be taken to the nursery during any service.
ROOT345 (3rd, 4th, & 5th Graders) meets one final time on May 4, before we take summer break. We will wrap our series called “Overwhelmed” and eat chicken tenders and mac ‘n cheese for dinner. We will have relays, games, and light saber fun. You will not want to miss the last ROOT345! Sunday, 6pm to 7:45pm on the Children’s Floor. We cannot wait to see you there.
Don’t forget to sign up for VBS! We need fun kids and amazing volunteers!
Newnan First United Methodist Church participated in One Roof’s Spring Fling on Wednesday, April 9th. We handed out coloring books and Easter eggs to the families that stopped by. Thank you to Lisa Murphy and her girls, Nancy Capponi, Anne Fletcher, and Gail Zoeller and to Mary Burk and Charlene Hall for packing the eggs.
We hosted a Basic Early Response Team (ERT) training on Saturday, April 26th with 12 people attending (11 from NFUMC and 1 from Leete Hill UMC). We learned how we deploy in the face of disasters while providing a caring Christian presence. Thank you to our trainer, Bill Pound from Cornerstone UMC, for teaching this class.
One Roof Donations for May - Personal care donations for the month of May to include bath soap/body wash, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, travel size personal toiletries. They are also running low on macaroni and cheese. Please place your donations in the blue wagons by the church office, narthex or in the Gathering Room during the week. Thank you for your continued generosity.
Read the latest Missions Newsletter
FOn Wednesday, May 14th, we are providing an Appreciation Lunch for the Newnan Fire Department by the Wadsworth Auditorium to thank them for their service to our community.
BTG Summer Lunch - There are a few spots remaining on June 13, to assist with Bridging The Gap’s Summer Lunch program. Call Aileen or sign up here
You’ll receive hands-on training on using a chainsaw, learn about the necessary safety gear, and then put your skills to the test in an outdoor session We’ll supply the saws, safety equipment, as well as water and Gatorade Feel free to bring your own chaps, helmet, and gloves, just remember to label them with your name.
$20 includes lunch and materials.
un ‘n Frolic had a great time playing BINGO and enjoying fellowship on April 21. For lunch, we had a charcuterie board. Thank you for coming out!
On Thursday, July 24th, we will be traveling to Dickey Farms and stopping at Buckner’s for lunch. We will leave the church at 9:45am and plan to return at around 4:30pm. Cost of the trip is $26 which includes lunch, tip and transportation. We will have 2 buses reserved for this trip so reserve your spot early. Payment is due when signing up for this event. RSVP by July 17th.
Hello, Church Family! As we bask in the joyous aftermath of Easter, we are reminded of the profound significance of this season. Easter is not just a day; it is a celebration of hope, renewal, and the triumph of life over death. Through music, we have the unique opportunity to express these deep spiritual truths and connect with the divine in a powerful way.
Our Easter Sunday service was a beautiful tapestry of melodies that echoed the resurrection story. Worship filled the sanctuary with triumphant praise, reminding us of the victory we have in Christ. We’re reminded through the music and Andrew’s message that you cannot hold back the dawn. It is my prayer that we all continue to meditate on this over the coming weeks, and seek to live it out as we boldly embrace this season of restoration.
May, as it often does, brings with it a very busy season in the life of this congregation.
• We will celebrate Children’s Sunday on May 4th. I look forward to seeing you all in worship as we are led by the children of our church. We will hear from both the Cherub Choir and Carol Choir this day. Be prepared to move a bit as we worship together with them!
• May 11th will see the observation of Mother’s Day, as we celebrate those important women in our life.
• On May 18th, we will celebrate the 2025 graduates of this congregation. The musical offering that day will be a special treat from our very own Youth Choir and Celebration Singers. It will be a moment full of praise and celebration!
Related to this, as most of you well know, I have been working on completing my doctorate, and was able to successfully defend and publish my dissertation this semester. My degree will be conferred on May 8th. I’ll close this newsletter entry with an excerpt from my acknowledgments:
“A special thank you goes to Newnan First United Methodist Church for hiring me while I was still very much in the early phases of creating this document. Thank you to Senior Pastor Rev. Andrew Chappell and Associate Pastor Rev. Connor Bell for being so supportive of me and giving me the space to see this document through while still getting to make amazing music. Thank you to Bonnie Krider for stepping in to keep the ship afloat while I got through my coursework – still do not know how you managed two full-time jobs. You are a rockstar. To the choir members, thank you for enduring my crazy personality while I endured some sleepless nights to create this document. And to all the women of the church who have become dear friends, thank you. Donna Brooks, I’ll never be able to repay your kindness.”
Thank you all for your support. I’m excited to embark on this ministry journey with you, free from the distractions of schoolwork!
Soli Deo Gloria, Caitie
Susan Mitchell
Preschool Director
smitchell@NewnanFUMC.org
770.253.1237
As I finish up my first school year as director of NFUMC preschool, I find myself reflecting on both the challenges and the triumphs that have shaped this year. Coming into this role, I knew I had big shoes to fill after Nancy Martin left such an impactful legacy. Thankfully, she was a wonderful mentor to me, and I am incredibly appreciative that she never hesitated to answer the phone when I called.
One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned this year is the value of building relationships with my teachers, families, church members, and most importantly, with our students. The conversations, feedback, and moments of reflection have helped guide me through tough decisions and helped build a more inclusive and supportive school environment.
There were challenges, several I never saw coming, but each obstacle offered a chance to learn and grow. I am thankful for the incredible support system around me who helped guide me through the unexpected. I truly have the best staff of teachers who make this preschool the best one around!
What I’m most proud of is the giving heart of this school and church. I’ve seen teachers go above and beyond, students rise to meet new expectations, and families show unwavering support. I am thankful to everyone who has helped make this school year a success. I am so excited for the future here at NFUMC. There is still much work to be done, but I carry into the next school year a deeper understanding of what it means to lead with purpose. I’m grateful for the experiences and the lessons of this first year and I’m more committed than ever to serving this church and school and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
We have several fun things going on at the preschool this month! We will honor our moms, learn about animals on the farm (including a visit from a petting zoo), and celebrate with end of year parties and graduation.
We have a few spots left in our summer camp programs, and are opening a NEW CAMP August 18-21, 2025. If you are interested in having your 2-6 year old child attend camp with us this summer please reach out to me.
phall@NewnanFUMC.org 770.253.7400
HWe have had a great month at UTH. We finished up our Easter Series, the Comeback Kid, where we look at Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection and how that comeback changed everything for everyone.
We had a great adventure during our Small Group Scatter, an event where students choose and plan the activity for some end of semester fellowship as a small group. Our Middle School boys had pizza and wings and played a ton of ball games, our Middle School girls had an Easter Cookout at one of their small group leader’s home, and the High Schoolers went to one of their family’s home and had a Themed Board night filled with snacks and fellowship. We closed out April with our Senior Reflection event where our seniors shared their experience and advice, were prayed over, and put their final hand print on the wall! It was a wonderful, bittersweet night.
In May we have some exciting things going on as well. Our UTH Choir will be performing their Choir Tour performance at Wesley Woods on May 4. UTHapalooza, our end of year event where we grill out at Camp Welcome and play games ultimately ending in an all out color war, will follow that same evening. It is such a fun event with some of the best photos coming out of it. Please be on the lookout for those in next month’s Shepherd! Lastly, May 18 is Graduate Sunday! We will be celebrating all our Graduates (high school and high education graduates) that Sunday, and we are so looking forward to recognizing them and their families as they reach this great accomplishment.
Upcoming Events- May and Beyond:
May 4: UTHapalooza (Final UTH event of School Year)
May 18: Graduate Sunday
May 31: Choir Tour
June 11: Downtown Devos Start
June 16: UTH Adventure- Aqua Island at Callaway Gardens
June 23: VBS (Volunteering)
1
FnF Outing
8:30am | Monastery of the Holy Spirit
3
ERT Recertification Class
8:30am | Gathering Room
4 - Children’s Sunday Worship
8:30am & 11:00am | Sanctuary
Sunday School 9:45am
Youth Choir Concert
3:30pm | Wesley Woods
ROOT345
6:00pm | Children’s Wing
UTHAPALOOZA
6:00pm | Camp Welcome
5
Church Council Mtg
7:00pm | Annex Hall
6
Preschool Spirit Night
5:00-8:00pm | Truett’s Chick-fil-A
7
UTH Biscuits & Bibles
7:00am | Truett’s Chick-fil-A
Women’s Bible Study
9:30am | Main 203
Breaking Bread
12:00pm | Gathering Room
Vespers
May Calendar
7
Women’s Evening Bible Study
6:30pm | Annex Hall
Chancel Choir
6:45pm | Choir Room
8
ARC Blood Drive
12:15-4:15pm | Parish Hall 11 Worship
8:30am & 11:00am | Sanctuary
Sunday School 9:45am
Youth Choir Make-up Rehearsal
5:00pm | Choir Room
13
Celebration Singers 9:30am | Choir Room
Angel House Meeting 11:30am | Main 200
Parkinson’s Support Meeting 2:30pm | Main 203
Trustees Meeting 6:00pm | Annex Conference
14
Women’s Bible Study 9:30am | Main 203
Breaking Bread
12:00pm | Gathering Room
Women’s Bible Study 6:30pm | Annex Hall
15
Kindergarten Graduation 10:30am | Sanctuary
5:00pm | Chapel
Wednesday Night Fellowship
5:00-6:15pm | Parish Hall
Carol Choir
5:15pm | Choir Room
17
ERT Chainsaw Class 8:00am | Gathering Room
Parents Night Out 4:00-8:00pm | Parish Hall
18 - Graduate Sunday
HS Seniors Breakfast 8:00am | Parish Hall
Worship 8:30am & 11:00am | Sanctuary
Sunday School 9:45am
21
Women’s Bible Study 9:30am | Main 203
Dementia Support Meeting 10:00am | Annex Conference
Breaking Bread 12:00pm | Gathering Room
Vespers 5:00pm | Chapel
Wednesday Night Fellowship 5:00-6:15pm | Parish Hall
Women’s Bible Study 6:30pm | Annex Hall
Chancel Choir 6:45pm | Choir Room
25
Chancel Choir 6:45pm | Choir Room
15
Preschool 4-yr Graduation 9:00am | Sanctuary
Worship 8:30am & 11:00am | Sanctuary
Sunday School 9:45am
28
Breaking Bread
12:00pm | Gathering Room
Youth Choir Tour Rehearsal
5:00pm | Choir Room
May 31-June 6
Youth Choir Tour North Carolina
JUNE 1 Worship
8:30am & 11:00am | Sanctuary
Sunday School 9:45am 4
Breaking Bread
12:00pm | Gathering Room
Chancel Choir
6:45pm | Choir Room
5
FnF Braves Game
9:45am | Truist Park
ARC Blood Drive
11:15am-4:15pm | Parish Hall
8 - Youth Sunday Worship
8:30am & 11:00am | Sanctuary Sunday School 9:45am 9-13
BTG Summer Lunch Program 10:15-1:30pm | Parish Hall 10
Angel House Meeting 11:30am | Main 200
Parkinson’s Support Meeting
2:30pm | Main 203
