Beacon - marionfumc.commarionfumc.com/hp_wordpress/wp-content/uploads/... · Jan. 17 Chris Vaughn...
Transcript of Beacon - marionfumc.commarionfumc.com/hp_wordpress/wp-content/uploads/... · Jan. 17 Chris Vaughn...
IN THIS ISSUE
the Beacon
First United Methodist Church Marion, NC
Seeking to be a Lighthouse guiding people in Worship, Discipleship,
and Christian Service.
A Word from Pastor Warren Page 1 Members in Action Page 2 January Calendar Page 2 Children and Youth Page 3 New Studies Page 4 Memorials Page 5 January Birthdays Page 6
January 2016
Dear Friends of Marion, The pagan god Janus had faces that looked two ways: forwards and backwards. So the first month of the year was named January, a month to look forward while looking backwards at the same time. Looking backward over the past year we each probably have had to say goodbye to someone in our lives, often sorrowfully. Looking forward to the new year we need to embrace the opportunity to say hello to someone new in our lives. As your pastor, I encourage you to welcome those that visit us with more than just a hello. Learn their name. Tell them your name. Find out where they live or work. Think of ways you might make a new friend. Do we really ever have too many friends? When we have visitors, are they left to sit in a sanctuary without someone to make a connection before the service begins? There are studies that show most people make up their mind about returning to a church in the first 10 minutes. That’s a long time before the choir sings an anthem or a message is shared. We are more comfortable worshiping in a strange place if we know someone around is a friendly person. An even better thing to do, is to welcome a new friend into your life and then invite them or bring them to church. Many times when I ask someone how they started attending a church they tell with a smile how 10, 30 , or 50 years ago “so and so” asked me to come to church with them. I have heard that the average Methodist invites one person to come to church with them every 39 years. Become someone’s friend first: knit with them, have coffee with them, watch a ball game with them, play golf with them, eat with them. Then ask your friend if you can bring them to church with you one Sunday to meet the wonderful people who are involved in our community so many ways; people that you have already told them about.
Sure they may say “no” or “maybe”, and it is not unusual to hear that response several times before they say “yes” to a friend. If you don’t ask, they will probably think that church is not very important to you. People who come to a church for the first time with a friend already feel like an insider. They don’t feel like complete strangers. Do you have room in your life for a stranger to become a new friend? If you do, it will give you a chance to share your best friend with them, Jesus. Look forward this year, and for the sake of Christ, welcome a new friend into your life. Grace and Peace, Pastor Warren
January Calendar
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Acolyte Jan. 3 Hayden Vaughn Jan. 10 Olivia Bell Jan. 17 Maggie Buckner Jan. 24 Hayden Vaughn Jan. 31 McKinna Young
Crucifer Jan.3 Eavan Smith Jan. 10 Charlotte Moore Jan. 17 Tyler Young Jan. 24 Ben Kagan Jan. 31 Thomas Moomaw
Children’s Church Jan. 3 Jessica Ross Jan. 10 Anita Laffoon Jan. 17 Angela Bryan Jan. 24 Ginny Rhodes Jan. 31 Anita Laffoon
Sunday School Elementary Age Brenda Salsman Youth Anita Laffoon
Lector Jan. 3 Leslie Smith Jan. 10 Leslie Smith Jan. 17 Chris Vaughn Jan. 24 Chris Vaughn Jan. 31 Kathy Benedict
Ushers Jan. 3 Ruth Sander Tony Long Bill & Chandler Bell Jan. 10 Ruth Sander Tony Long Bill & Chandler Bell Jan. 17 Jan. 24 UMW Ladies Coffee Clean-up Emmaus Forum Sound Chris Wilson
Friday, Jan. 1 (church office closed) Sunday, Jan. 3 12:00 pm-Youth Council Meeting Wednesday, Jan. 6 8:00 am-Men’s Bible Study 6:00 pm-Wesley Covenant Service Thursday, Jan. 7 9:30 am-New Ladies Bible 7:00 pm-Staff Parish Meeting Friday, Jan. 8 10:00 am-Quilted Hugs Sunday, Jan. 10 6:00 pm-Youth Night begins! Monday, Jan. 11 7:00-Mayme Tainter Circle 7:00-Trustees Meeting Tuesday, Jan. 12 7:00-Prayer & Evangelism Meeting Wednesday, Jan. 13 8:00 am-Men’s Bible Study 9:00 am-Coffee Club 10:00 am-Morning Circle 5:30 pm-Wonderful Wed. Activities resume Thursday, Jan. 14 9:30 am-Ladies Bible Study Monday, Jan. 18 6:00 pm-ECEC Board Meeting 7:00 pm-Finance Meeting Tuesday, Jan. 19 Deadline for Newsletter Wednesday, Jan. 20 8:00 am-Men’s Bible Study 5:30 pm-Wonderful Wed. night Thursday, Jan. 21 9:30 am-Ladies Bible Study Sunday, Jan. 24 UMW Sunday 6:00 pm-Community Worship Wednesday, Jan. 27 8:00 am-Men’s Bible Study 9:00 am-Coffee Club 5:30 pm-Wonderful Wed. Night Thursday, Jan. 29 9:30 am-Ladies Bible Study
Wonderful Wednesday Schedule
5:30 pm Wonderful Wed. Meal
6:00 pm Adult Bible Study
Faithweaver Friends
7:00 pm Psalter Choir Practice
Children & Youth
Wednesday Nights for Kids
Faithweaver friends will resume on Wednesday, January 13th from
6-7 pm. Kids ages 3 through 5th grade are in-vited to join us for games, crafts, and fun as we learn about God’s Word!
Hope to see you there!
Youth Night
We’re doing something new in
January! Youth Nights will begin
on January 10th, and from there
will be on every second and fourth
Sunday of the month. We will
meet from 6-8 pm and have
dinner, then play games, have
Bible Study, do a mission project,
and more!
Every youth night will be
different but every Youth Night
needs you! We hope you’ll join us!
Mission Trip
Don’t forget that the date to sign up for
the summer mission trip is Sunday, January 10th!
Youth who have completed grades 6-12 are invited to join us in
Niagara Falls, NY as we serve God by serving others.
Let Anita know if you have questions!
Page 4 – The Beacon
United Methodist Men
Thanks to all who helped make
our peanut sales so successful in
2015! We had record sales!
In case you haven’t gotten the memo, peanut prices have gone
up slightly.
New Pricing:
Jar of peanuts: $4 each
Case of peanuts: $42
Again, thank you for supporting
this important ministry.
To the Men of the Church: We have started doing our breakfast meetings in the fellowship hall of the church. They are on the second Sunday of every month at 8 am. We would love to see and welcome you to our group.
Ladies’ Bible Study
Beginning Thursday, January 7, the Ladies Bible Study will begin the Beth Moore series on Esther. This nine-week study
focuses on the challenges and blessings of being a God-centered woman. Each session will be 2 hours from 9:30-11:30 on Thursday
mornings. If you plan to participate, please tell Debra Boldon or Cynthia Davis so participant guides can be ordered.
Participants’ guides are $10 each.
Come Join us for a new Study Series
Joining the Movement of
God’s Mission in the world.
It only takes a spark….
Take the 50 day challenge and see
what the Holy Spirit ignites for you,
your congregation, and
your community.
Begins Wednesday,
January 13…
Come Join Us!
Attention all 6th graders and above who would like to become a
professing member of FUMC
Confirmation Class
Beginning Sunday, January 10
at 5 pm for ten weeks
Sign-ups on bulletin board outside Pastor Warren’s office.
Memorials
To FUMC Family:
Thank you for the gift basket of many
useful gifts and goodies.
Thank you, Daniel for designing my
card. God Bless All, Gladys Cooper
In Memory of
Cindey Dellinger Marian Kessler Bill & Beth Ross Psalter Choir
In Honor of The Church Staff United Methodist Women Chris Simolke Fred and Mary Dodge Dina Stainbrook The Boldons
Dear FUMC, Thanks so much for all you
do for the children of Marion Elementary School,
and thanks for providing shoes for a little boy who
needed them. Diane Ray
Marion Elementary
Dear Church Family, We want to express our appreciation for your cards, phone calls, visits, prayers, food, and love. Through this challenging time we have experienced God’s love and support through friends like you. God bless you all and thank you so very much. Mary and Garner Hallman
To our friends and former neighbors of Marion FUMC, The Bonners have sold their former vacation home in Marion on Little Bald Mountain. This will be our final contribution to a wonderful church and brothers and sisters in Christ. We wish you all the very best of health, happiness and prosperity, and ultimately, the greatest of all gifts...salvation. Lane and Marie Bonner
Page 5-The Beacon
March Birthdays
January Birthdays
A Lighthouse guiding people in Worship, Spiritual Growth, and Service.
First United Methodist Church 176 Robert St. Marion, NC 28752 828-652-7010 marionfumc.com
Jan. 1 Zeb Kincaid David Long Jan. 2 Elizabeth Gowan Jan. 3 Ann Arney Jan. 7 Bruce Haynes Jan. 8 Kyle Benedict Sam Hallyburton Jan. 9 Betty Sue Patton Jan. 11 Kaye Cuthbertson Charlotte Moore Jan. 12 Charles Sander Jan. 16 Walt Bagwell Jan. 17 Frank Boldon
Jan. 18 Mary Dodge Jan. 19 Laqueta Carroll Karah Wilson Jan. 24 Greg Simolke Jan. 26 Laura Conley Jan. 27 Tyler Cook Righter Long Jan. 29 Kathy Benedict Crystal Brown Evelyn Kinninger Jan. 30 Linda Cloherty Tonja Pool