Church Blog (Page 6)
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.
Community Outreach
First Church Family: Please notice the offerings below, in relation to Yokefellow’s Drive-Thru Food Drive on Saturday, and also the request for volunteers on July 14 for the Blackberry Festival. I’m planning to be a part of both of those efforts and hope we have good First Methodist responses. Also, please know that we continue to be needed (especially on Saturday mornings) to volunteer at our Habitat House project (2614 Friendswood – off of 321A South). This Sunday…
Summer News
First Church Family: Summer is upon us! The Old Farmer’s Almanac guided both sets of my grandparents in many ways, including providing dates for planting their spring and summer gardens. Always would they make their first planting of the year on Good Friday (regardless of the exact date) and never would they set out vegetable plants on what they called: “rotten Saturday” (the day before Easter.) About the summer, the Almanac records: “The beginning of the season depends on whether…
A Transformed Day
First Church Family: I pray that you are well. I heard a devotion this morning about the fact that we all will have to endure suffering for one reason or another, because, like it or not, it is part of life. And that the antidote to allowing it to defeat us is to love one another. I have to say that the devotion transformed my day! If you weren’t able to be with us on Sunday for Confirmation, please…
A Prayer for Calm
First Church Family: The warmth of spring is finally here! Gardeners can put annual plants in the ground and not worry about the threat of frost (though that pronouncement probably will encourage the weather patterns to change – Ha!) May is second only to December in its busyness. There are concerts, exams, preschool and school endings, high school and college graduations, weddings…the list goes on and on. When there is something almost every night of the week, it’s hard not…
May News
First Church Family: Last year about this time, we began a conversation about the need for housing in our county. Our Pete Kidder, Caldwell Habitat for Humanity executive director, helped us come to understand that: · there are houses within a mile of our church where families with children live on dirt floors. · more than 7,000 houses in our county are heated by portable kerosene heaters and by opening the oven. · 7,764 families in our county spend almost one-third of their total income…
Activity Packed Weekend
First Church Family, I pray you are doing well. We are still basking in God’s Easter season’s blessings. This weekend is going to be activity packed. I want you to know of several things in which you might want to participate. On Saturday morning at 8:00AM, volunteers from our church will gather at our Habitat site, 2614 Friendswood, Lenoir, to work on the house until noon. At 10:00AM our church will provide a break-time snack. At 9:00AM, on that same…
Looking Back on Easter
First Church Family, What wonderful Holy Week and Easter observance we enjoyed! Our Palm Sunday program of scripture and music was outstanding; the “Passion of the Christ” with holy communion was experienced by a near capacity crowd; the Good Friday Procession of the Cross was carried out despite heavy rains (and supported by representatives from a dozen churches/Christian non-profits); and Resurrection Sunday worship, complete with a professionally constructed and decorated walking bridge, reminding us that Jesus is the “Bridge to Eternity” for those who receive Him made…
Easter Letter From Pastor Dave
First Church Family: After worship on Palm Sunday, I sat in my office processing the experience of our Passion Play in worship. I was moved by the dramatic reading of the Gospel account of Jesus’ last days, and the music that accompanied the service. At the close of our time together, we observed and long uncomfortable silence, reflecting on how Jesus suffered and died on the Cross. This coming week, we will have the opportunity to experience…
Date Change: Habitat Site Dedication
DATE CHANGE FOR SITE DEDICATION, NOW April 15 @ 10:00AM First Church Family: Because of the forecast of inclement weather for Saturday, and the horrific mud conditions at the Habitat site, this Saturday’s dedication ceremony has been canceled/postponed. The first official work day at the site will be Saturday, April 15, from 8:00AM – Noon. On that morning, we will break at 10:00AM for the site dedication ceremony. At that time, we will be introduced to our Habitat family, the Victory Harshaw family. Blessings, Dave Melton, Sr.…
Holy Week
First Church Family: The holiest week of the year is upon us. And our church is providing you and your guests with wonderful opportunities to experience it fully. Saturday April 1 – 10:00am: Join us as we meet our Habitat for Humanity family at the construction site – 2614 Friendswood Road, Lenoir. We will hear from Habitat’s executive director, our own Pete Kidder, and dedicate the construction site. DATE CHANGE: Saturday, April 15 @ 10:00am Sunday April 2 – 10:00am: Join us in the…
April News
First Church Family: Happy Spring! (Yes, spring has finally “sprung,” even though we had some of winter’s coldest weather right before its “springing”.) Though I can come and go as I please, regardless of the season, I must admit that there is something about the winter that is confining. I’ve looked forward to being “released” from the bondage of winter, with the new freedom to be outside, in the community, garden, and yard. Really, Easter is all about being freed…