February 2020 Newsletter

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February 2020 Our Mission: To fulfill our call to be the physical presence of Jesus Christ... by worshipping God with passion, intentionally growing in faith, proclaiming the gospel with grace, and humbly serving in love.

Contents: Page 1:

Ash Wednesday & Lent

Page 2:

Monthly Reflections

Page 3:

Adult Ministries

Page 4:

Adult Ministries

Page 5:

Adult Ministries

Page 6:

Missions

Page 7:

Pastoral Care

Page 8:

Youth Ministry & WCP

Page 9:

WCA & Children

Page 10: Evangelism Ministry Page 11: Announcements Page 12: Church Information

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Ash Wednesday and the Season of Lent The Lenten season is a time of preparation leading up to Easter. Historically, it traces back to the third century, when Christians observed a 40-day period of fasting to commemorate the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness. Since then, it has evolved and been influenced by various Christian traditions. Within United Methodist circles, Lent is typically understood to be a time of repentance, self-examination, and reflection. It is a season that invites us to (re)focus on our relationship with God… somewhat like an annual “spiritual review.”

A time for us to ask, “How is it with my soul?”

A time to celebrate the things that are going well and be honest about the things that aren’t.

It’s a time to repent and make adjustments.

From a discipleship perspective, Lent is a time for a fresh start.

Ash Wednesday Service We invite you to join us as we come together as one congregation to honor the beginning of Lent at our Ash Wednesday service on February 26 at 7:00 p.m. in the Weddington Campus Sanctuary. We will not have our Wednesday night Children's Ministry, JAM, on Ash Wednesday. Childcare will be available for the service beginning at 6:45 p.m. in the nursery wing.

Lenten Devotional During the Lenten season you will have an opportunity to sign up to receive Weddington’s Lent e-Devotional, a daily devotional written by members and friends of Weddington Church and delivered to your email inbox each morning (Monday through Saturday, beginning on Ash Wednesday). Each devotional is unique and includes a scripture reading and words of faith and encouragement. If you would like to sign up to receive this Adult Discipleship resource, please email Patsy Sorrell. Printed devotional booklets will also be available through the church office by special request.

WELCOME TO WEDDINGTON UMC The Weddington UMC family is a vibrant and growing congregation, and we invite you to become a part of this exciting and dynamic church, as we seek to serve as the Body of Christ in our world. God is doing great things in and through this church. We offer a variety of worship styles and ministry opportunities.

We would love to have you join us for worship, ministry, and service. As the church, we are a family. To learn more about WUMC, attend a Meet Weddington session to get to know the staff and learn more about the church. For more information on Meet Weddington see page 11.

Monthly Reflections - Rev. Dr. Terry Moore Reflection I was thinking about the title for this section of the newsletter: Monthly Reflections. Reflection is a good thing.

Reflection is pausing to consider. In many cases, reflection involves pausing to look back and think about how things were and how the past will impact the future.

On February 1, I completed 12 years of ministry together with you and began year 13. A dozen years. Over a decade.

As I reflect, God has allowed us to be a part of amazing times in the life of this church as well as the lives of so many individuals and families. It is a sacred honor to lead the people of God in worship, in ministry, and in mission. We have celebrated baptisms, confirmations, and weddings.

We have celebrated as people have made a commitment to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. We have prayed together in the hospital. We have grieved together as we celebrated the life and faith of someone we loved who now lives with God. All in the name of and on behalf of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We have studied the scriptures together seeking to hear a fresh word from God and what that word means in our lives. We have served together loving our neighbors and helping them feel the embrace of Christ. We have made sandwiches, fed those in shelters, shipped Christmas boxes, shared gifts, and so much more. We have cherished vulnerable children in Kenya, began churches in the Samburu, trained pastors, and worshipped together. We have built churches, worshipped, and served together in Costa Rica, Bulgaria, and Romania. All in the name of and on behalf of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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It has not all been easy. Some of the times in the past 12 years have been the most difficult in my life. There have been ups and downs. But each step of the way, God has been at work. God has been present. God has provided. To God be the glory. We are grateful to God who transcends our humanness and offers divine grace.

But now we turn. It is a new decade. It is a new era in the life of the church. We are the people of God individually as Christians and together as the church. What will the next 12 years look like? God has a vision and plan. Our task will be to discern and then respond in faithfulness. We are positioned for these next few years to be some of the best years in ministry.

I look forward to serving you and our community in the name of and on behalf of our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that we will join hands together to be the church God has called us to be.

Terry Rev. Dr. Terry Moore, Senior Pastor

Adult Ministries Adult Ministries . Patsy Sorrell Upcoming Bible Studies God of Covenant

Women's Bible Study Time: Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. beginning January 29 Location: Weddington Fellowship Hall Leader: Marty Cook Our God is a Covenant Maker and Covenant Keeper. We can see this clearly in the stories of the fathers of our faith – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. Through their stories, we discover how God is working everything together for His glory and for the good of His people. We witness God fulfill every promise and we see that He is the One for whom nothing is too hard. We learn to see Jesus in the stories of His people even in the Old Testament. We discover how the God of Covenant is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Join us as we walk verse by verse through Genesis 12-50 and trace the themes of covenant, resurrection, redemption, and hope. As we journey together, we will grow in our understanding of who God is. As we deepen our understanding of who God is, we will learn more about who we are in Him. Childcare available by reservation.

We Saved You A Seat: Finding and Keeping Lasting Friendships Women's Bible Study Time: Thursday, 7:00-8:30 p.m. beginning February 13 Location: Sanctuary Building, Room 209 Leader: Lauren Litaker

In today’s busy world, many of us are wired to appear “fine,” warding off authenticity and shielding ourselves from judgment. At times, we may even hide behind the hum of busyness to escape intimate friendships with the women God has placed in our lives. We yearn for authentic relationships and the opportunity to be “real” with people we trust – but comparison, envy, and insecurities often stop us from pulling out a chair at the table. Authentic relationships are important and give women a place to be accepted, encouraged, and inspired to grow and gain an understanding of our true identity. This new 7-session women’s Bible Study group will explore how our relationship with Jesus is the ultimate model for authentic friendships. Nothing shapes us like the impact of a friend – and it is how Jesus radically and intimately connects with us! Leave perfection, busyness, and fear behind and come join us.

Spiritual Strength Training: Strengthening Our Faith During the Lenten Season Wednesday Night Bible Study Time: Wednesday, 6:30-7:45 p.m. beginning March 4 Location: Family Life Center Leader: Rev. Amy Hutchison

This 5-week study throughout the Lent season will encourage us to assess our relationship with God and our personal faith disciplines. Together we will study various ways God’s people have strengthened and reconnected with their own faith, as well as look at practical and helpful resources as we (re)commit ourselves to intentionally growing in our faith journeys. Look for more information in the next Connections Guide (available mid-February). Childcare is available by reservation.

For more information on any of our winter Bible Studies, pick up a copy of our Winter Connections Adult Ministry guide or contact Pasty Sorrell. To register for any of these studies, please visit www.weddingtonchurch.org/bible-studies.

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Adult Ministries Women's Ministry Women's Circles Mary Martha Circle gathers as a group of loving and

caring women in fellowship - supporting each other, growing in faith, and helping to serve the needs in the church and surrounding community.

The circle will meet on Friday, February 14, at 9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. *Please note this date change. For February and March the group will be viewing the video series, God and Country by Andy Stanley. We welcome all ladies of the church to join us.

For more information contact Mary Revels at revelsmary@carolina.rr.com or Tommie Craig at tommiecraig@carolina.rr.com.

Susanna Wesley Circle (SWC) Please join us for our next

Susanna Wesley Circle meeting on Friday, February 7, in Helms Hall from 9:30-11:30 a.m. This will be our "Share the Love" meeting where we will participate in mission work throughout the meeting. Childcare is available for free for children ages 7 months and older. If you have a baby, feel free to bring them to the meeting. We look forward to seeing you!

If you have any questions, email us at secretaryswc@gmail.com.

And a big thank you to an amazing couple Todd and Ashley Lesher who gave us great tips on marriage in our January meeting. We all learned a lot and look forward to implementing some of their important Godly tips.

Lucy Price Circle will host a Valentine's luncheon for the

House of Pearls ladies at 701 Main Restaurant in Waxhaw on Saturday, February 8. This will be in lieu of our regular Tuesday evening meeting. Ladies of the church are welcome to join us as we share the love of Christ with these ladies with this special event. If you would like more information about attending or helping with this event, contact Carolyn Canzonieri.

The Lucy Price Circle is currently the only circle that normally meets in the evening. Our circle tries to be mission-focused and has projects, activities, and events to help House of Pearls (a Christian transition home), our Monroe Campus Homework Help children, a family with special needs, and other mission-oriented opportunities. Our meetings may have a speaker, an activity, and/or a meal. We enjoy eating and having social times, but also want to share the love of Christ by serving others.

The Lucy Price Circle normally meets on the second Tuesday evening from September through May. For more information, contact Carolyn Canzonieri at cpc.canzonieri@gmail.com.

Weddington Kids Consignment Sale Save the date for the Weddington Kids Consignment Spring/Summer Sale Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7! Come and shop thousands of items from newborns to teens! All proceeds beneift missions of Weddington UMC. For more details, see page 10 or visit www.weddingtonkidsconsignmentsale.com.

Men's Ministry Men’s Connection Breakfast The United Methodist Men meet in the Youth Center of the Family Life Center from 7:30-9:00 a.m. twice a month on Sunday for food, fellowship, and to discuss various topics. All men are welcome!

February Dates and Topics • Feb. 9 - Jeff D'Jernes of Wycliffe/SIL International will speak on the work being done in Papua New Guinea • Feb. 23 - Breakfast and fellowship - no formal program Page 4

Andy Horne speaking on January 12 at Men's Connection breakfast.

Upcoming Events F4 Adult Fellowship Night Saturday, March 21 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Weddington Campus Hemby House and Children’s Wing Join your church friends - new and old - for a fun evening of fellowship! Drop off your children in the Children’s Wing between 5:15-5:30 p.m. where they will enjoy a pizza dinner and fun. After dropping off your children, head over to the Hemby House for dinner, fun and games, and fellowship between 5:30-7:30 p.m. Bring a dish to share for dinner and invite your friends to join us!

Sign up on the website via SignUp Genius to let us know the dish you’ll be bringing and to register for childcare. The registration deadline is March 16 so we have an accurate count for childcare. If there are any questions, please contact Misty Baratta at mistyhoover@gmail.com.

Weddington Women's Mini-Retreat Weddington Women’s Event: Come Laugh, Come Learn, Come Love with guest speaker Cherie Nettles Saturday, March 14, 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. in the Weddington Campus Family Life Center

Join the Women’s Ministry for an in-town “mini-retreat” in our Weddington Campus Family Life Center. Come and enjoy worship, fellowship and discussion, and our guest speaker, Bible Teacher & comedienne, Cherie Nettles. Register now to come laugh, learn, love, and be refreshed by God’s Truth. Lunch is included with registration. The cost is $20 per person and the deadline to register is March 8.

About Cherie: Born and raised in the Carolinas, guest speaker Cherie Nettles believes all southern girls arrive in the magnolia-lined states in three ways – safe, sweet, and sassy. Cherie admits, “I have chosen to place my emphasis on the sassy.” She’s a comedienne, story-teller, “Certified Laughter Leader,” and Bible teacher who will invite us to dig deep into God’s Word. Register by March 8 on the website at www.weddingtonchurch.org/women.

WeddingtonWomen’s Event

Come Laugh, Learn & Love Weddington Women’s Mini-Retreat with guest speaker Cherie Nettles

Saturday, March 14, 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Weddington Campus Family Life Center Join the Women’s Ministry for an in-town “mini retreat” in our Weddington Campus Family Life Center. Come and enjoy worship, fellowship and discussion, and our guest speaker, Bible Teacher and comedienne, Cherie Nettles. Register now to come laugh, learn, love, and be refreshed by God’s Truth. Lunch is included with registration. The cost is $20 per person and the deadline to register is March 8th. For questions or more information please contact the church office.

About Cherie Born and raised in the Carolinas, guest speaker Cherie Nettles believes all southern girls arrive in the magnolia-lined states in three ways - safe, sweet, and sassy. Cherie admits, “I have chosen to place my emphasis on the ‘sassy.’” She’s a comedienne, story-teller, “Certified Laughter Leader,” and Bible teacher who will invite us to dig deep into God’s Word.

Register online at www.weddingtonchurch.org/women.

Registration deadline is March 8.

Kings & Queens . Sandra McKee The Kings & Queens will meet on Thursday, February 13 at 10:00 a.m. in the Family Life Center. Join us for fellowship, lunch, and a fun program as Jeff Keener joins us as “Dean Martin.”

Golden Corral Luncheon Wednesday, February 19 at 11:30 a.m. We will leave the Fellowship Hall back parking lot at 11:00 a.m. Contact Sandra McKee at 704-846-1032 if you would like to ride with the group.

In January, Steve and Cynthia Schick presented a program on Chefs for Seniors, a service that connects seniors with licensed, professional chefs who prepare high quality, affordable, and nutritious meals in the home. Their mission is to improve seniors lives through food.

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Missions Local Missions . Rev. Rocío Ávila-Ramírez February Opportunities for Service Homework Help Twice a week, we welcome elementary school children to a fun, safe, and supportive space where we help with homework as well as play games, have snack, and build friendships with them. It is an opportunity to be part of the positive development of children’s lives.

Join us Tuesdays & Thursdays from 3:30-5:00 p.m. at the Monroe Campus.

Community Shelter of Union County Volunteers are needed to serve dinner at the Community Shelter in Union County on the third Thursdays of August and November. This is a great opportunity for groups to serve, as at least 10 people are needed to help prepare and serve food. Arrival time for prep is 5:00 p.m. and dinner is served from 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Parkwood High School Join us as we restock the food pantry for Parkwood High School students. These items help feed the students over the weekend by being placed discretely in their backpacks and sent home with them. Items can be dropped off throughout the month of February on Sundays in the barrels in Helms Hall or in the entrance to the Family Life Center.

Items needed: • Canned meats • Soups (containing meat, veggies) • Canned chili • Bags of rice/pasta noodles (microwaveable) • Granola bars, fruit snacks Operation Sandwich On the second Saturday of each month, we come together to humbly serve our community in love and make sandwiches for the hungry in partnership with Urban Ministry and Union County Community Shelter. This is an opportunity for people of all ages to be involved in a local mission. Join us this month on February 8 in the Bonds Grove Campus Fellowship Hall. Arrive at 8:30 a.m. to begin promptly at 9:00 a.m.

National and Foreign Missions Building Brothers At this time, all slots are filled for our trip on April 23-26, 2020 where we build relationships and

Habitat for Humanity homes for families in need on Johns Island, SC. We do have a wait list for any men that are interested in still going on the mission trip. To be added to the waiting list or for more information contact: Brian King at 704-408-3170, bbking@rodgersbuilders.com or Lloyd Briggs at 704-806-6752, labinc1@aol.com.

Kenya Mission Info. Meeting We are going to have a Kenya mission trip information meeting on Sunday, February 23 in Room 213 off of Helms Hall in the Sanctuary building after the 11:00 a.m. worship service. Please join us if you are interested in learning more about traveling to Kenya this summer. For questions please contact Bradd Blocker at gbblocker@gmail.com or Paula Burnett at paulab5@outlook.com.

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Pastoral Care Pastoral Care Ministry . Rev. Ed Briggs News and Announcements Winter DivorceCare will begin on Wednesday, February 5 at 6:30 p.m. in Room 20 in the Sanctuary building. Contact Sandra McKee at the church office to register.

Weddington Christian Counseling Center During the month of February as Valentine’s Day approaches, we are reminded of love especially the love that sweethearts have for each other. This holiday can be one that is quite joyous for some and difficult for others. It can be painful for people who no longer have their spouse in their lives for whatever reason. People who have never been married and possibly longing for a spouse may be struggling as well. If you or someone you know is having a difficult time this month due to Valentine’s Day, there is help for you. Tony Gibson from our Counseling Center is available for support. He can be reached at 704-814-4220 or by email at tgibson.wcc@weddingtonchurch.org.

DivorceCare Testimony "When my husband and I ended our marriage of 35 years this year, I was overcome with every kind of emotion imaginable.

When he first left our home, my first emotion was relief. Our marriage the last few years was a very difficult one at times. But as days turned into weeks and months, I went on a rollercoaster of emotions from feeling sad, anger, confused, depression, hurt, quiet, lost, embarrassed, shame, and fear.

My family and friends tried to help and often listened to me rant, cry, and rattle on and on about things. They were patient and kind but I was struggling with the emotions that they often couldn’t understand because they either never had experienced divorce or if they had experienced it, they were thrilled to get rid of that “loser” spouse. I was not thrilled, inside I knew it was the right thing to do but how do you really let go of 35 years of marriage? The first 3-4 months apart were the hardest times I had ever gone through in my entire life. I needed to talk to someone to see if I was losing my mind or if this was all ‘normal.’ I didn’t really want to pay someone to listen to me. I wanted to talk to others who were like me, going through divorce. I searched the internet and came across DivorceCare which was being offered at Weddington UMC. The first night I walked into the room and sat down I couldn’t believe I was sitting there. What was happening to my life that I had to go and sit with a bunch of strangers and talk about how my marriage had come crashing apart and how I had failed? It was the best decision I had made in a long time. The group leaders, Mike, Angie, and Rick, had all been divorced and shared their own stories and then we all did. How difficult and yet freeing that was for me. Each story was different but we all understood the emotions we shared. I felt this instant connection with each member of the group. It was such a relief to be in the company of people who understood how I felt. And I understood how they felt. As someone said that night, “People can have sympathy for how you feel during divorce but only those who have experienced it can have empathy for you.” How true!

DivorceCare meets once a week for 13 weeks. Each week deals with a different topic in the divorce journey: healing, anger, loneliness, forgiveness, etc. We watch a video and share our thoughts on it afterwards and how that topic is affecting our lives. If one of us needs to vent, oftentimes we forgo or shorten the lesson so that we can listen and support one another.

What a tremendous blessing it has been to be a part of this group. I look forward to each week. After all the weeks of sharing stories, often through tears, we have all become closer in this very dark time in our lives. Through DivorceCare and God's undying love for each of us we are all doing better. God has wrapped His arms around us and surrounded us with others to comfort us and help guide us through this journey. I am forever grateful to DivorceCare and the leaders who have led this group to brighter days ahead." -Anonymous Page 7

Youth Ministry Youth Ministry . Rev. Meredith Hinton, Andy Horne, & Andrew Haylett Sunday Night Youth begins at 6:30 p.m. There are

programs for Jr. and Sr. High students, with Bible study and games. Afterward, everyone comes together for worship.

Youth Bible Study Join us on Wednesdays from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Youth Center.

Jr. High Spring Retreat Join us March 20-22 for our Jr. High Spring Retreat! We will travel to Mt. Shepherd Retreat Center in Ashboro, NC for a time of worship, devotions, and fellowship. The cost is $150 per person with a $75.00 deposit due at time of registration. The registration deadline is March 3. Learn more and register today at www.weddingtonchurch.org/youth.

We started 2020 with a FULL Youth Ministry staff! Praise God for Andy, Andrew, and our entire Youth Ministry team. I, Meredith, have been thrilled to welcome both Andy and Andrew. We have spent much of the month getting organized and orienting Andy and Andrew to all the happenings of our Youth Ministry. We have a lot of vision for the year, a lot of things up our sleeves, and most importantly a desire to go where God is calling us.

I am profoundly thankful for the support of our church. I believe we are called to do incredible things in the name of Jesus for the transformation of lives. We all have a unique calling to walk alongside teenagers, and they look for and need our support. Thank you for allowing us to strengthen our strategy by having an Associate of Middle School (Andrew) and an Associate of High School (Andy). We are positioned in such a way that’ll help us take a deeper dive into the unique discipleship needs of those in High School and Middle School.

February brings for us the continuation of our regularly scheduled programming and also gifts us with our Senior High Retreat over Valentine’s Day weekend. If you’d like more information about what we do, please don’t hesitate to reach out! - Rev. Meredith Hinton

Weddington Christian Preschool . Sherri Martinez, Director WCP Salutes Community Helpers! February is Community Helper Month at WCP, and we would like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you who serve this community with your gifts and time. “We should use whatever gift we have received to serve one another.” 1 Peter 4:10 WCP Registration WCP is in the process of confirming registration for the 2020-2021 School Year. Registration confirmation for church members have been emailed. Please contact WCP or WCP Bonds Grove Campus to check on additional openings for this school year, or for the 2020-2021 school year.

WCP February Mission is "Coins for Kids" to benefit the children at the "Home of the Good Shepherd" Orphanage in Niyahururu. WCP will place coin jugs at the children's Noah's Ark entrance to collect loose change through February. All coins and cash collected will be wired straight to the orphanage and Pastor Simon Mwaura. We will be looking for volunteers to count and wrap coins on March 1.

WCP Weddington Campus Tours Please visit our website to see future tour dates. Tours will start at the main WUMC Sanctuary entrance near the fountain at 2:00 p.m. To respect the privacy and security of children and families enrolled at WCP, tours will be offered on the Bonds Grove campus by appointment only. Please call 704-843-6785 or email us.

Registration for WCP Summer Camps has begun! Registration is open to all WUMC Weekday and Sunday ministries effective February 1, 2020. Registration opens to the community effective February 15, 2020. Please visit our website for more information. Summer camp dates are June 2-5, July 7-10, and August 4-7.

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Children's Ministries Weddington Christian Academy .

Adell Keen, Principal News and Announcements WCA 2020-2021 Registration is open to the public! Please contact the school for more information.

Samaritan’s Purse The WCA Middle School students volunteered at Samaritan’s Feet on January 23. They enjoyed sorting and packaging shoes for needy people around the world.

Hawk for a Day On Friday, January 24, WCA welcomed several WCP students to participate as a “Hawk for a Day.” The preschoolers interacted with WCA JK – 1st graders, learned some Spanish, ate a fun snack, created an art project, and programmed robots. It was a great way for them to learn more at WCA!

Children’s Ministry . Carolyn Nelson The Ark Children’s Ministry Faith & Family Development Workshop: Love Languages for Children Sunday, February 23, 4:00-5:30 p.m. in Helms Hall You love your child, but does your child feel loved? Every child has a unique way of feeling loved. In this parenting workshop we will use the book, The 5 Love Languages of Children, by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell. Using this book we will unpack ways to discover your child’s love language, use that love language to help your child learn best, and how to discipline and correct more lovingly and effectively once we know our child’s love language.

Come early for coffee, dessert, and a chance to fellowship with others. Those who register and attend will receive one copy of the book per family as a gift to you. Childcare is available in our nursery wing beginning at 3:30 p.m. Register on the website

by February 19 at www.weddingtonchurch.org/children.

News and Announcements Coins for Kenya The Ark January/February Mission is “Coins for Kenya.” The coins collection will benefit the children at the Good Shepherd Orphanage in Niyahururu, Kenya. There will be a coin jug at the entrance to the KidCheck station to collect loose change through February 9. All coins and cash will be sent to the orphanage and Pastor Simon Mwaura. Change can also be brought to your child’s classroom. Let’s look for those loose coins!

Sunday Morning Service Opportunities Are you looking for a way to serve this coming year? Please consider serving in one of our classrooms on Sunday mornings. We have classes available at the 9:30 and 11:00 hours. Our second and third grade kiddos really need people who can love on them, teach them God’s Word, and show them who God is. If you think you can serve in our program, please contact Carolyn Nelson. You can make a difference!

Vacation Bible School 2020 is coming! Mark your calendars for Monday, June 22- Friday, June 26 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. for ages 4 through rising 5th grade. Registration will take place beginning March 29, 2020. More information to come!

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Evangelism Ministry . Rev. Amy Hutchison Silent Witness Ministry Due to popular demand, we are rolling out a pre-order for items not previously available to the entire church as well as a pre-order for a new item. These help us be a silent witness throughout our community so that we can show people how much we love our church!

These items are as follows: • Coffee Tumbler ($15 suggested donation) - This coffee tumbler will keep your coffee hot or your sweet tea cold! These insulated tumblers have previously only been available for those who serve in specific areas of the church, but due to popular demand they are now available for all!

• Padfolio ($20 suggested donation) - Seen the stylish padfolios that hold our attendee information every week? Wouldn’t you like to have one to organize your meeting notes, class notes, or doodles? These are now available for preorder as well!

• Stainless Steel Water Bottle ($15 suggested donation) - This is a new item made available for those of you who are trying to keep up with your daily water intake! These insulated water bottles are made of stainless steel and are good for all your H20 needs!

Due to these being higher priced items, we are taking pre-orders to make sure we order enough (but not too many!) to be good stewards of the Weddington UMC funds. Pre-orders will be open until February 28 via the church website.

Evangelism Study Back in September, we launched a new Evangelism Study, now available under the Proclaim tab on the church website. If you lead any Life Group, Bible Study, or Sunday School Class you should have received information on this program as well as a survey following up. Please check your e-mail to complete the survery or ask for a physical copy of the study at the Welcome Centers. For questions, please contact Rev. Amy Hutchison.

Weddington Kids Consignment Sale

Weddington Columbarium

Save the date for the Weddington Kids Consignment Spring/ Summer Sale Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7! Come and shop thousands of items from newborns to teens! All proceeds beneift missions of Weddington UMC.

The columbarium was added to the west end of our Weddington graveyard in the spring of 2018. Members can purchase niches for themselves and their family members. The purchase price for each niche will be $2,000. The dimensions of a niche are 12"x12"x12'' and can hold two urns. Memorial plaques and engraved pavers for those who would like to memorialize family members who may be interred elsewhere are also available. The cost of a memorial plaque or paver is $300. Funds received for niches or plaques will cover the initial construction costs as well as ongoing maintenance.

Remaining funds beyond construction costs will be used to establish a long-term care fund for the columbarium and our graveyards. Anyone interested in purchasing a niche or who might like additional information please contact the church office.

Friday, March 6 1:30-4:00 p.m.: Pre-Sale for Volunteers and Consignors.

4:00-8:00 p.m.: Ticketed pre-sale shopping event. $15 per person cash, $16 per person if paying by credit card.

This fee is collected at the entrance.

Saturday, March 7 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Public Sale 1:00-3:00 p.m.: Half-Price Sale on most items For more information, please visit www.weddingtonkidsconsignmentsale.com.

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Church Announcements Meet Weddington Sessions

Wednesdays @ Weddington

Interested in becoming a part of the Weddington UMC family? As your clergy, program staff, and fellow Christians, it will be our privilege to grow and serve together. We request that anyone interested in membership attend one of our Meet Weddington Church sessions.

Wednesdays evenings are a wonderful time of fellowship and ministry at Weddington Church, and there’s something for everyone!

At Meet Weddington you will enjoy an informal time of fellowship, meet the pastoral and ministry staff, hear an overview of the ministry and mission of the church, and get answers to any questions you may have about Weddington UMC. Free childcare is provided in the Sanctuary building.

Fellowship meals are served from 5:00-6:45 p.m. in the Family Life Center (September-May). The cost per meal is $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children, with a maximum of $20.00 per family. Reservations are not required, and while we hope you stay to join us for a time of discipleship, that is not required either.

Meet Weddington Church sessions are typically held monthly.

The next Meet Weddington will be on February 23 at 5:00 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room of the Family Life Center. To learn more, contact Rev. Amy Hutchison.

We’re glad to come together mid-week as a church family to break bread together, support one another in life and faith, and continue to build faith-filled friendships.

Thank You!

February Menu

2019 was a wonderful year of ministry! Through your faithfulness and financial generosity, we were able to fulfill our ministry and mission goals for 2019. Children, youth, adults, senior adults, and people in need in our community and around our world have been blessed on behalf of Jesus Christ. We are looking forward to an even more wonderful 2020 and what God may be calling us to do and be.

• Feb. 5 - Oven-fried chicken, mac & cheese, steamed buttered broccoli, roll, and cookies • Feb. 12 - Roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, ovenroasted green beans, roll, and Texas sheet cake • Feb. 19 - Spaghetti, breadstick, and cookies • Feb. 26 - Chicken and beef fajitas, black beans and rice, and churros

Weddington Church App Have you downloaded our church app yet? This new app includes many great features to keep connected including sermon audio streaming, weekly Sunday bulletins, online giving, special events, the Bible, and more! The Weddington Church app is available for download in the Apple, Google Play, and Amazon app stores. Simply search for "Weddington Church."

WUMC Support Groups NA Fridays, 10:00 p.m., Fellowship Hall Room 2

Contact: Nina, nina_michelle7@yahoo.com or 704-499-2564

AL-ANON Thursdays, 7:00 p.m., Hemby House

Contact: Sarah N. (704) 654-8529; sjn2003@gmail.com or Chris R. (704) 904-6849; cgr1057@aol.com

Saturdays, 11:00 a.m., Monroe Campus Fellowship Hall Contact: Kasei, kaseidelpezzo@gmail.com

ACA, Adult Children of Alcoholics Fridays,

Saturdays, 8:00 p.m., Fellowship Hall Contact: Nina, nina_michelle7@yahoo.com or 704-499-2564

NAMI Family Support Group 2nd Thursdays, 7:00

1st Saturday monthly, 3:00 p.m., Fellowship Hall Contact: Nina, nina_michelle7@yahoo.com or 704-499-2564

PAL Sundays, 6:30 p.m., Hemby House

Contact: Jennifer Wyant, palweddingtonnc@gmail.com

6:30 p.m., Room 209. Contact: suzanne.rakoczy@gmail.com p.m., Room 214, John and Evann Duncan, 980-313-8712

NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group 1st and 3rd Mondays, 7:30-9:00 p.m, Room 214 Contact: namiunionco@gmail.com

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Sunday Worship Times 8:15 a.m. Traditional (Sanctuary) 9:30 a.m. Praise and Worship (Sanctuary) 10:10 a.m. Acoustic Praise and Worship (FLC) 11:00 a.m. Traditional (Sanctuary) 11:00 a.m. Traditional (Bonds Grove Campus) 6:00 p.m. Bilingual Worship (Monroe Campus) 4:00 p.m. Waltonwood Retirement Community Rev. Dr. Terry Moore, Senior Pastor terry.moore@weddingtonchurch.org

JoAnn Horstman, Executive Director of Operations joann.horstman@weddingtonchurch.org

Rev. Rocio Ávila-Ramírez, Missions Pastor rocio.avila@weddingtonchurch.org

Elizabeth Mitchell, Director of Communications elizabeth.mitchell@weddingtonchurch.org

Rev. Ed Briggs, Minister of Pastoral Care ed.briggs@weddingtonchurch.org Rev. Meredith Hinton, Youth Minister meredith.hinton@weddingtonchurch.org Rev. Amy Hutchison, Evangelism Pastor amy.hutchison@weddingtonchurch.org Rev. Leroy Henry Affiliated United Methodist Clergy Dr. Reginald Houze, Director of Music & Arts reginald.houze@weddingtonchurch.org Justin Lineberry, Director of Praise & Worship justin.lineberry@weddingtonchurch.org

Ruth Cooley, Executive Assistant ruth.cooley@weddingtonchurch.org Sandra McKee, Admin. Assistant sandra.mckee@weddingtonchurch.org Linda Caskey, Financial Assistant linda.caskey@weddingtonchurch.org Alison Cardwell, Financial Administrator alison.cardwell@weddingtonchurch.org Tonya Tapp, Admin. Assistant tonya.tapp@weddingtonchurch.org Leah Primm, Admin. Assistant leah.primm@weddingtonchurch.org

Carolyn Nelson, Children’s Minister carolyn.nelson@weddingtonchurch.org

Adell Keen, WCA Principal akeen@weddingtonchristianacademy.org

Ashley Goodner, Children’s Ministry Associate ashley.goodner@weddingtonchurch.org

Sherri Martinez, WCP Director sherri.martinez@weddingtonchurch.org

Katie Bradshaw, Children’s Ministry AssociateMonroe Campus katie.monroechildcare@gmail.com

Jamie Edmondson, WCP Assistant Director bgcps@weddingtonchurch.org

Andy Horne, Associate Youth Minister andy.horne@weddingtonchurch.org Andrew Haylett, Associate Youth Minister andrew.haylett@weddingtonchurch.org Patsy Sorrell, Director of Adult Discipleship patsy.sorrell@weddingtonchurch.org

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Jan Williams, Mother’s Morning Out Director jan.williams@weddingtonchurch.org Mike Carver, Facilities Manager mcar1973@earthlink.net Kim Veith, Food Service Director kim.veith@weddingtonchurch.org

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram for all the latest from WUMC (@WeddingtonUMC).

Church Office Hours: Monday - Thursday: 8:30 - 5:00 p.m.

Friday: 8:30 - 12:00 p.m.

704-846-1032 Campuses Weddington Campus 13901 Providence Road Weddington, NC 28104 Sanctuary Building and Family Life Center (FLC) Bonds Grove Campus 8215 Bonds Grove Church Rd Waxhaw, NC 28173 Weddington Christian Counseling Center 9914 New Town Road Marvin, NC 28173 Tony Gibson, Counselor, MA, LMFT tgibson.wcc@weddingtonchurch.org Monroe Campus 520 Engleside St Monroe, NC 28110