November 2, 2022 Weekly Newsletter

The Salem Weekly Update

Salem United Methodist Church Newsletter Published Weekly November 2, 2022

Pastor The Rev. Benjamin Wolf Music Director Lynne Isley Caretaker Jerri Sharpe Sound/Video/Technology Ron Goras, Connie Wolf & Kai VandeVisser

A NOTE FROM THE PASTOR

We have an important church-wide meeting today at 6pm! Following the strong preference of those present at our church wide meeting on October 23 to explore a relationship with the Global Methodist Church, the Disaffiliation Committee proceeded to reach out to the leaders of this new denomination, requesting a representative come to present to the congregation.

In response to this request, two GMC ambassadors will join us today. Rev. Wendy Bishop serves as pastor of Bethel and Center United Methodist Churches across the river, and Rev. Cory Oliver serves as pastor of Orange Chapel UMC. Of course, all three of these congregations are within minutes of us, so you’re probably familiar with them. Revs. Bishop and Oliver are both currently United Methodist pastors but are in the process of moving to the GMC. These ambassadors will provide an overview of the GMC, and what Salem’s place within it could be. There will be plenty of time to ask your questions. If you have questions now, it would be helpful for you to send them to me (salemumc@gmail.com), so I can send them on to the ambassadors to be sure they have an answer when they arrive. Following the presentation, those present will vote on whether or not to proceed with joining the GMC.

Certainly, this decision is important for Salem’s future. While the GMC ambassadors will present an overview tonight, they surely can’t cover everything. I encourage you to read through the information available at https://

Phone: 336 376 6513 Email: salemumc@gmail.com Website: www.salemumcofac.com Facebook: https:// www.facebook.com/ SalemUMCofAC

globalmethodist.org and be sure to note your questions for discussion.

I hope that all of you who care about Salem’s future will be present tonight starting at 6pm. If you’re unable to come in person, you can join online using the normal Sunday Zoom link: https://nccumc.zoom.us/j/772544684

Thanks to everyone who came out on Monday for our annual community Trunk or Treat! We had a great turnout, easily giving out our 300 hot dogs and lot of candies and goodies. In addition to all of the food, Mark Sharpe toured the ghouls around on hayrides. If you missed it, you can get a sense of the night with some pictures I posted here Thank you to everyone who made this possible, from the Women of Faith who provided much of the food, to those present cooking and serving, to others who set up and decorated, and of course all those who decorated their trunks! Events like this are so important in introducing ourselves to our neighbors and embodying the love of Christ to them. Thank you for making it happen!

Grace for the journey, Pastor Ben

There’s still a couple copies of the above picture of the old wooden Salem church . Some people were asking to get a copy of it. If interested in an 8x10 copy the cost is $5. Contact Sheila Greeson to get your copy. Profits go to the Building and Maintenance Fund. .

UPCOMINGWORSHIP&STUDY

• Sunday, November 6th : Sunday School @ 9:30 am followed by worship service @ 10:30 am & online via Zoom @ following link: https://nccumc.zoom.us/j/772544684

The Disaffiliation Committee is working hard to meet the requirements of the disaffiliation process as required by the UMC. We are especially looking for copies of minutes of committees and meetings and bulletins, primarily before 1990. If you might have any of them, please contact John Greeson @ (336) 380 7586. If you have anything that you think might be of value, please contact him as well to determine if those records are needed.

UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS

• Tonight, Wednesday, November 2nd : Disaffiliation Committee Meeting @ 6:00 pm all invited (we need more participants/help!)

• Tonight, Wednesday, November 2nd : Dinner @ Mebane Hursey's @ 6:30 pm all invited

• Thursday, November 3rd : Choir Practice @ 6:00 pm (note time change)

• Saturday, November 5th : Choir Recording Session @ 10:00 am

• Friday, November 11th through Sunday, November 13th : Youth Group Pilgrimage trip

The New Disciples Class is still selling dishrags to fund their mission and teaching activities. The dishrags will sale for $2.00 each. Please see any member of the class to get yours soon.

THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING SUPPORTING THE SNACK PACK MINISTRY AT AWS

The MIM can’t thank you enough for all those who have helped our FOOD DRIVE! Here is a list of what we still need:

171 boxes Mac n cheese

26 Individual cookie packs

55 Individual packs of Fruit & Grain Bars

We Thank You, and plan to have a thank you meal for those who help out sometime in January of 2023! When You are out shopping please take this list with you.

Cemetery Plots Available for Non-church Members

During the 2020 Memorial Association Business Meeting, the membership approved the sale of 50 cemetery plots to non church members. The plots are located in the rear section of Section II of the cemetery and will be sold for $2,000.00 each to raise much needed capital for the upkeep of the cemetery for years to come.

Before reaching out to local funeral services, the Association will allow church and Association members the opportunity to make these available to extended family members or friends who might be seeking burial plots.

If you know of anyone seeking a plot, have them call an officer of the Association for details. The following are officers of the Association and Cemetery Committee: Brad Andrews, Dennis Cole, Debbie Cole, George Todd, David Whitfield, Donna Sharpe, John Greeson, Bobby Holt, and Gerald Paris. You can also send John Greeson an email at: Greaseman1@triad.rr.com or text him at 336 380 7586.

S.A.F.E. Sharing Tree Starting November 1

Each Thanksgiving there are families right here in our own community who cannot share the holiday because they are struggling financially. With your help, the S.A.F.E. Sharing Tree will provide a Thanksgiving Meal for hundreds of families.

Businesses in Saxapahaw have agreed to host a S.A.F.E. Sharing Tree in their business, which will have tags hanging from them as ornaments. A person interested in donating can take a tag. You can also right here without a tag.

There are two ways to share with those in need:

Scan the QR Code (below) or click here to donate directly by November 13. Every purchase will be matched with a donated turkey. $35 will provide a turkey or $60 will provide an entire meal.

Visit us online safealamance.org to find a shopping list. Shop for your non-perishable holiday food and return your purchases to the business location where you picked up your tag by November 13.

S.A.F.E. will distribute your donation to a qualified family in our community.

There is a generous anonymous donor in our community who has offered to match every turkey or meal donated with another turkey. So, keep an eye out starting November 1 in businesses around Saxapahaw for your chance to give a struggling family a holiday meal!

Salem

We are in need of additional choir members, especially tenors and bass. As you can tell (and hear), the back row is getting mighty thin. And just think guys, if you are in the choir and anyone asks whether you’ve been behaving yourself, you can say with the utmost sincerity, “Hey, I’m a choir boy!” (Note: has not worked for me!)

1. Mail Checks to the Church Mailing Address

Thank you to everyone who does this already! Checks can made out to Salem United Methodist Church and mailed to:

Salem United Methodist Church 4471 Salem Church Road Haw River, NC 27258 9415

2. Did you know that many banks offer a free Bill Pay option? I usually use this and it’s very easy. Typically, you login to your online banking account and you can set up either a one time or recurring payment to the church. Then your bank prints and sends a check directly to the church, usually all at no cost to you. Talk to your banker about it or look on their website; here are some examples: State Employees’ Credit Union, Wells Fargo, Truliant, & PNC. Whenever you give by cash or check, there are no processing fees all of your gift goes to the ministries of the Church.

3. Give Online

We’re excited to offer a new way to support the ministries of the church: online giving. All you need to do is visit https://bit.ly/give2salem , fill in your information, and complete your gift! With convenience, though, there is a slight fee. Credit and debit card gifts have about a 3% fee and bank drafts (ACH/eCheck) have about a 1% fee. You’ll notice when you give, the “Cover Fees” box is checked so that your gift is increased to cover the processing fees so the church is able to get your entire gift. If you’re able, please leave that box checked so the church can receive your full gift.

Please contact Pastor Ben if you have any questions !

Please help lead worship!

We are still in need of folks to sign up to help lead our worship services. You can lead from the Pulpit if you are attending services in the Sanctuary or you can either pre-record (audio or video...Pastor Ben can help you with this) your portion or do so by live Zoom feed if you are worshiping remotely. Please contact Pastor Ben and let him know if you are interested.

Upcoming Youth Group Events:

Friday Nov 11 Sunday Nov 13 Pilgrimage (Rocky Mount, NC) More information to come!

Sunday Dec 4th, 4pm Youth Meeting in the Church (Fellowship Hall is reserved)

Tentative Saturday Dec 17th Youth Christmas Party @5pm

Saturday April 23rd, 2023 Community Day @ Chestnut Ridge, 3 7pm

SAVE THE DATE For

Children’s AnnuAl ChristmAs ProgrAm Sunday, December 18

At 5:00 Pm in sAlem’s sAnCtuAry Followed by

sAlem’s ChurCh ChristmAs PArty In Fellowship Hall @6:00 PM

Rumor has it that we will have some very special guests dressed in red

CALLING ALL CHILDREN & YOUTH TO PARTICPATE IN The Christmas Play

Footprints to the Manger

You will not have to spend hours and hours at the church rehearsing for this Christmas Play. Our goal is to glorify God, celebrate the birth of His son and enjoy our time together therefore we will only have 2 rehearsals. Each rehearsal will only last for one hour.

Short Informational Meeting

Sunday, November 20 right after worship Parts will be distributed to children & youth. Parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles please attend this meeting with your child. PLEASE do not stress out about parts, it is not a lot of memorization for the kids.

1

Practice Sunday, December 4, 3:00 4:00 PM

Practice Sunday, December 11, 3:00 4:00 PM

Presentation of Play

Play

Sunday, December 18 in Salem’s Sanctuary at 5:00 PM

This week we lift up our praises to God for:

• Birthdays: Rebecca Dodson (Patricia Dodson’s granddaughter), Hogan Lambeth (Patricia Dodson’s grandson), Wanda Andrews, Rachel Paris, Debbie Stump, Denny Jones (Mark & Donna Sharpe’sson in law)

• Frank & Jan Sady back in worship with us...great to have them back from the frozen north

• Ann Slaughter’s step son Tim Slaughter is a new great granddad as his granddaughter had a baby girl, Taylor

• All the support from Salem for the Ruritan breakfast this past Saturday

This week we lift up our prayers to God for:

• Nancy Hunt (Rev. Carolyn Burrus’ Mom; Rev Burrus has held her Charge Conf membership @ Salem for years) hip replacement @ 83

• Rosa Lefler fell

• Jessica Holt (Oliver Sharpe’s mom) her mom passed away unexpectedly last week

• Rosa Lefler hospitalized

• Kathy Duggins (friend of Patricia Dodson) Cancer

• Joanne Morse’s sister procedure to ruleoutcancer

• Kaitlyn Pell grief over losing Mark still strong

• Lynne Isley Shoulder surgery

• Bonnie Smith irregular heart beat

• Connie Wolf’s co workers and friends who have lost their fathers in the past week

“God knows what we are going through when we grieve, and He wants to assure us of His love and concern. He also wants us to turn to Him and bring our heartaches and burdens to Him.”

Billy Graham