December 2012

The Concert of Life Continues… A magazine for those journeying in their walk of faith.

“...since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us

run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…”

Hebrews 12:1-2

ENCORE!

Encore Pastor: Dusty Lucas

Editorial Director: Marsha Allen

Producer: Donna Guhr

Contributing:

Sybil Cunard Ronda Farlow

Mary Gunsalus Linda Trogdon

Jane Baker

Encore! A monthly publication of First

Wesleyan Church. A magazine for those

journeying in their walk of faith.

We welcome your comments.

Contact us at

First Wesleyan Church

1701 Westchester Dr.

High Point, NC 27262

Telephone: 336-884-1111

Website: firstwesleyan.org

Email: dguhr@firstwesleyan.org

Encore! Is a free publication.

For a copy, call or e-mail

your name and address to:

dguhr@firstwesleyan.com and

indicate “Encore! Subscription”

Volume 1, Issue 4

Dear Encore! Reader: I don't know about you, but I am excited about our Christmas production, "Down From His Glory". This is a "Do Not Miss!" event. As a member of the cast, I may be a little biased, but I don’t think so. The gospel message comes across clear and unmistakable. The music will remain in your heart a long time after the curtain closes—only God knows the impact it can have on our community. On behalf of Pastor Dusty and the whole team taking part in this great undertaking, may I encourage you to join us as we tell the story of why Jesus came down from His glory! There are still ways you can help in this ministry. In any endeavor of this size it takes more than those on stage. As was shared at a recent rehearsal, “You only need to look at the credits at the end of a movie to realize the number of people necessary to make it happen.” As we approach these final days before the performances, we still could use your help. Please contact Pastor Dusty at 884-1111. Let’s make this a total church family gift to our community. If you haven't picked up your tickets, you may do so in the church foyer on Sunday or at the church office through the week. Be sure to get enough to give to your family, friends and people outside the church and our community. If you have or know of a business that would be willing to post one of our posters, please give them one. Christy Edwards in the office can get a poster for you. And most importantly, please pray! Pray that hearts will be softened and the Spirit of God will speak to those who have yet to receive Jesus Christ whose birth we celebrate. Next month Pastor Dusty will return to share from his heart, and soon you will hear him share an exciting new ministry outreach with us. Until then, blessings,

Marsha Allen, Editor

PASTOR PROFILE

Over four years ago, 1,100 miles and 20 grueling hours by

car, Pastor Doug and Tina Marie, his high school sweetheart and

wife of 20 years* made their journey from Maine to us with

their children, Makenzie Gabrielle (17) and Micah Gabriel (14).

We’re so glad the Taubin family followed God’s call to First

Wesleyan!

Pastor Doug is our Pastor of Spiritual Formation as well as Host Pastor of the Towne Centre

service and Life Coaching. Previously, he served in Maine as the Assistant Pastor and several

additional areas of ministry.

At age 23, Pastor Doug came to know Christ, through the faithful example of his grandfather,

a Baptist minister. As Proverbs says, “Train up a child in the way he should go . . . “

Prior to becoming a pastor, he worked in various areas from airline line supervisor to a heavy

equipment operator. His rich background equipped him well to minister to our diverse congre-

gation!

Personal time with Tina Marie, Makenzie and Micah is the best time, then comes crafting,

house projects, and working out. By the way, he makes prayer/walking sticks. A great hobby!

Pastor Doug is a drummer…quite impressive! He enjoys mandolin, bagpipes, and saxophone.

But, for a big smile, just offer him sushi or mention PF

Chang’s, Brazilian Steak House, Thai Herb, or

McAllister’s.

The Fighting Illini (soccer) Team of Illinois, the Dallas

Cowboys, and the Boston Red Sox are his favorite sports.

However, at home his favorite games are Balderdash,

Words w/Friends, baseball, football, or frisbee.

His bucket list includes skydiving (!), a houseboat trip

down the gorge of the Lucerne Valley, underwater

diving/snorkeling, and hanging out with Jeremy Camp

(contemporary Christian musician). Favorite authors are Watchman Nee, Henry Nouwen, and

Steve DeNeff for their language of the deeper inner life.

Pastor Doug’s prayer is that God will enable him to reach people outside the church as well as

enable God’s people within the body. If you’ve attended one of his spiritual freedom classes or

discipleship groups, you know of his extraordinary gift of discernment.

Continued

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH PASTOR DOUG

Pastor Doug, Tina, and their family are a

precious gift from the Lord to our church

family, and we thank God for them and

their ministry to us.

Reporter: Sybil Cunard

*Their 20th wedding anniversary was

November 27, 2012

Rick (and Marcia) Kavanaugh, Leadership/Coaching/Preaching & Teaching/Missions

Doug (and Tina) Taubin, Towne Centre Service Host Pastor/Spiritual Formation

Inthava (and Pat) Inthisane, Asian Ministry

Cher (and Mike) Limpach, Connections/Sunday School/ Small Groups

Dusty (and Katie) Lucas, Celebration Center Worship/ Musical Productions/ Upper Adult Ministry/Visitation

Scott (and Stephanie) Reid, Senior High Youth/ Young Adults/ Missions

Sheri (and Derric) Jennings, Children’s Ministry

Andy (and Crystal) Roy, Towne Centre Worship/ Junior High Youth

FIRST WESLEYAN PASTORAL STAFF

11 Early Bird Breakfast

A delightful time of Christian fellowship

and breakfast. Everyone is welcome.

December 11 at 8am at

Carolina Dinner on

Eastchester.

ENCORE! Hymn Sing 4 Tuesday, December 4,11,18 at 6pm

in the Connector at

Westchester

Apartments. Lead by

Dusty Lucas and

friends.

Prayer Breakfast 5 Westchester Village Apartments

on December 5th & 19th.

8:30am Building 1,

Activity Room

Lead by Dusty Lucas

DMA Dinners! “Don’t Mention Age”

20

December 20th at

J & S Cafeteria

located off Hwy. 68

at the Palladium at

6pm Join us for great fellowship

and fun! No reservations

Come with bells on and

experience the beautiful voice

of Barbara Gailey! You

won’t want to miss this

Christmas blessings.

Food catered from Mary B’s

Southern Kitchen.

12 Noon– Room 106– Cost $8

5 ENCORE! Luncheon

A full musical

production.

December 14-16

Fri. & Sat 7pm

Sun. 3pm

14 Down from His Glory

Guided tour by candlelight through

the Historic District of Old Salem.

The evening will include music,

games and food.

Cost: $27

Call Donna

at 888-4523.

20 Christmas Candlelight Tour

GIANTS OF THE FAITH James and Rachelle Denny

GIVING PRAISE TO GOD!

In rain and in sunshine, James and Rachelle Denny have never al-

lowed life’s circumstances to dissuade them from living their lives

as a joy-filled “sacrifice of praise to God.” (Heb. 13:15)

Today, we know them as our beloved Pastor James (Pastor Emeri-

tus) and Rachelle, musician extraordinaire! But did you know…?

Growing up in Kentucky, Pastor James wanted to be a farmer, but as

a teenager, God called him into the ministry. Jim never turned back. Even in

the Army in WWII, his witness was strong and clear.

As a little 4-year-old in Ohio, Rachelle began piano lessons and a great mu-

sician was born! Carefully listening to other pianists on the radio, she devel-

oped her inimitable playing style. Rachelle plays to your soul.

While training for ministry, James met and married Nina Saunders and had two sons, Steve and Tim,

blessed their home. In not too distant a place, Rachelle met and married Rev. Lowell Thomas Brand, a

gifted Wesleyan pastor in Ohio. God blessed them with two children, Victoria and John Brand. Both

James and Rachelle lost their first spouses in sudden death.

It was 1969. Through the encouragement of friends, they met and love blossomed. Wedding bells rang

and two once-brokenhearted families became one happy household of six!

In 1972, the Denny’s joined the pastoral staff at First Wesleyan. James became the first administrator of

Wesleyan Arms Retirement Center, now Providence Place, and in 1984, following the death of Dr.

Clyde Parker, James became our senior pastor.

Through the years, James has fully delivered his heart to ministry while Rachelle ministered though mu-

sic in the church along with directing The Golden Tones Senior Adult Choir. She also taught at

Wesleyan Christian Academy and John Wesley College.

Today, James creates marvelous works of art in his woodworking shop build-

ing antique trucks, wagons, cars and toys. Rachelle continues playing several

instruments, presenting musical programs, as well as weekly playing the

grand piano in the High Point Regional Hospital Lobby.

God’s Word brings joy to their hearts. Rachelle’s favorite scripture verse is

Proverbs 25:11, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of sil-

ver.” And Philippians 4:13 is dear to James, “I can do all things through

Christ who strengthens me.”

Today, they advise young Christ-followers to “Ask the Lord what He wants

you to do in His Service.” And to use your “Joy-Talent” to win others to

Christ!

Reporter: Ronda Farlow

OAK HOLLOW THRIFT STORE

HAS BARGAINS!

Have you ever forgotten a member of your

family? And you’re saying, “What?!! You’re

kidding!” Actually, I wish I was. It was late one

Sunday evening. Harold was pastoring a wonderful

little Wesleyan Church in Kansas City during his

seminary days, and after great visiting at the end of

the service, we got in the car to drive the 30

minutes home, when one of us turned around to

check on toddler Russell asleep in the back seat.

Horrors!! He wasn’t there! Harold broke all speed

limits to fly back to the church and find our

precious little son…still asleep on the church

bench. Whew! What relief…but what

remorse and guilt!

Well, it’s happened again! We forgot a very

important member of First Wesleyan’s ministry

family, Oak Hollow Thrift Store! In the last issue

of Encore! magazine, we inadvertently left them

out as we named the various FWC ministries on our

two campuses. I’m guilty and we’re all so sorry!

OAK HOLLOW THRIFT STORE is an

amazing two-way ministry story. As you donate

those items you don’t need or that don’t fit or take

too much space, Oak Hollow Thrift Store makes

them available (at a fraction of their worth) to those

who really need to find a bargain for “pennies”. A

triple blessing! You give. They share. Someone

receives…with love and a prayer. It’s beautiful

when God’s family works together. Stop by Oak Hollow Thrift Store (next to the

Wesleyan Christian Academy) at 1020 Eastchester

Dr., in High Point and share out of your abundance

with them. It may help someone have a very merry

Christmas. Or give Judy Young, a call at 336-886-

8716. She and her staff and team of volunteers at

Oak Hollow Thrift Store fulfill a great outreach

ministry for God and their family at First

Wesleyan.

Reporter: Mary Gunsalus

Special Report: On Friday, the 16th of

November, the Oak Hollow Thrift Store held

its "Black Friday" sale. The event was more

than successful, it was the highest sales day

in the history of the store, Praise the Lord!

Encore! travelled to Operation Christmas Child HQ in Charlotte where over 62,000 shoe boxes were filled with goodies for children around the world. What hidden talents were revealed! Donna Guhr, our fearless leader, organized everything so we could work and have fun! David Keith removed money from the shoeboxes (hmmm!) and Katie Lucas became a heavy lifter on the assembly line. Lottie Jessup taped and distributed boxes and Norma Adams became an expert inspector! Dusty was “Jack-of-all-trades” while Chuck Mealy kept all on target. Joyce Nelson helped Lottie keep the line moving and yours truly zapped the barcodes on the shoeboxes. Peggy Nance had the absolute best job of all… she worked the CANDY table! We had such a good time working together…sharing a great time…stopping at Cracker Barrel on the way home. Operation Christmas Child was definitely something we want to repeat next year!

Reporter: Linda Trogdon

SANTA’S ENCORE! HELPERS

At Operation Christmas Child