Posts by FUMC Office (Page 5)
Staff Up-dates
First Church Family, I pray that you are hanging in and putting your trust is God, our Rock, our Sword, and our Shield! I write that because there are so many frightening things happening in our world. I’m praying both for Israelis and Palestinians. There are innocent persons on all sides of that conflict, especially when we remember that it’s Hamas and Hezbollah (and not all Palestinians and Arabs) who are the terrorists. My heart is heavy and goes out to all of them. …
Fall News
First Church Family: Fall is in the air. Over the summer, we re-examined Wesleyan Methodist theology and its focus on grace: the undeserved, unmerited love of Almighty God. We remembered Wesley’s focus on God’s prevenient grace, which goes before us, softening our hearts to God and preparing the way for us. Then, we were reminded of God’s justifying grace, in which God saves (or justifies) us through the life, sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. …
Worldwide Communion Sunday
First Church Family: I pray that you are well. I’m doing fine and am enjoying the seasonal weather. The first Sunday of October is always Worldwide Communion Sunday, a Sunday that most denominations around the globe offer the elements Jesus’ sanctified at His last meal with His disciples. We will celebrate Holy Communion in both services this coming Sunday and have somewhat of an international feel to our services. Please pray for God’s Universal Church as you do your daily devotions this…
Wesley’s Grace
First Church Family: I missed being with you in worship this past Sunday, but I was in dire need ofsome vacation days. Often when I’m away for several days, I still preach when Ireturn. This past Sunday though, a friend and fellow pastor, the Rev. Leo Fair,filled our pulpit beautifully. Many thanks to him and also our Marable Southall-Vess, who led the services. This Sunday we will complete our summer worship series on John Wesley’stheology, which centered on God’s grace:…
Back-to-Church Sunday
First Church Family: I pray you enjoyed the Labor Day Weekend, the informal last weekend of summer vacation. I stayed around Lenoir but did take some time off on Monday. We enjoyed a great summer season at First Church. Our Vacation Bible School was both well done and well-attended, the work on our Habitat for Humanity house moved forward, and our combined worship services felt good and were also well-attended. When we combine services like that, our overall attendance drops…
September News
First Church Family: I pray that you are enjoying the end of summer. Though of course time moves on, this summer has seemed to move most quickly. Teachers and school staff members are already on the job, and local public school children are in class as of Monday, August 28. Our prayers are with them. For the first time, earlier this year, we made the decision to combine services across the summer at 10:00am. That of course did several things:…
Happening @ FUMC
First Church Family: Wow, what a week it’s been! I know it must seem that I begin much correspondence in such a way, but it is true. Last week, we shared God’s love with both children (45 of them) and youth and adult counselors through our Vacation Bible School program: “Stellar.” All involved marveled at God’s creation of the vast and wonderful universe! And all learned stories of Jesus: with Zacchaeus, with the people who welcomed the Master into Jerusalem on Palm…
VBS Sunday and Luncheon
First Church Family: What a week it has been! Our church has been filled with children singing, dancing, playing, enjoying snacks, and doing crafts. Our Ericka Murphy, Tara Blake, and Jon Beal, along with numerous volunteers and additional staff: Danny Clark, Kay Lanier, and Joseph Franklin have done an amazing job leading our 2023 Vacation Bible School! Forty-four children have attended and loved every minute of it. The theme for the week has been: “Whenever darkness comes, or challenges come, or…
Important UpDates
First Church Family: I pray that you are enjoying the summer sunshine after the rains of previous weeks as much as I am. Please note the following important updates: 1) Our food drive for Yokefellow has been wildly successful. Our initial goal was to collect and donate 1,100 pounds of rice, pinto beans, and peanut butter so that our ministry partner could feed the poor this summer when needs are greater. As of the end of last week, you had brought…
3 things…
First Church Family: Three things: 1.) Please continue to bring your food donations to the church for our ministry partner Yokefellow. Though Yokefellow has asked us to donate: white rice, dried pintos, and peanut butter, Executive Director Sharon Harmon has reminded me that their main ongoing food request from us is always white rice. Last Sunday we announced that through July 12 we had raised 1,734 pounds of food for our local impoverished population. 2.) Please remember that our annual Vacation Bible School begins on…
Volunteer Opportunities
First Church Family: I pray that you are enjoying the summer in these beautiful foothills. God’s bounty is rolling in from the farms and family gardens. The seeds planted this spring have turned into vegetables and fruit. Paul talks about it in 1 Corinthians, and turns the conversation into a promise of eternal life: What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And as for what you sow,you do not sow the body that is to be,but a…
Summer Worship Schedule
During the months of July and August, we will be combining our twoservices and will be meeting for one service at 10:00am. Each week wewill be alternating between the CLC and the Sanctuary.