OCTOBER 2016

First United Methodist Church

Newton, North Carolina

Loving People into the Kingdom of God in the Heart of Catawba County.

IN TOUCH

300 N. Main Ave. PO Box 926 Newton, NC 28658

828-464-8422

fumcnewtonnc.org

facebook.com/ fumcnewtonnc

First United Methodist

Church Staff:

Lara “Willis” Greene, Pastor

cell: 828-461-5918

Julie Braswell, DCE

Ann Cook, Adm. Assist.

John Coffey, Organist

Michael Roberts, Praise Service

Rose Bibeau, Children’s Music

Kayla Sigmon, Nursery Ministry

Kristi Harvell, Preschool

Consecration Sunday Is Coming

Congregations that approach financial stewardship from a biblical perspective do not view the money Christians give to their church merely as a way to pay its bills. Rather, such congregations see financial contributions as a way to help people grow spiritually in their relationship with God by supporting their church’s mission and ministry with a percentage of their incomes.

Our congregation’s Finance Committee has selected the New Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program as a way to teach the biblical and spiritual principles of generous giving in our stew-ardship education emphasis this year.

New Consecration Sunday is based on the biblical philoso-phy of the need of the giver to give for his or her own spiritual de-velopment, rather than on the need of the church to receive. In-stead of treating people like members of a social club who should pay dues, we will treat people like followers of Jesus Christ who want to give unselfishly as an act of discipleship. New Consecra-tion Sunday encourages people toward proportionate and system-atic giving in response to the question, “What percentage of my in-come is God calling me to give?”

During morning worship on Consecration Sunday, October 30, we are asking our members and friends to make their financial commitments to our church’s missionary, benevolent, and educa-tional ministries in this community and around the world. Every member and friend who completes an Estimate of Giving Card does so voluntarily by attending morning worship on Consecration Sunday. We urge people to attend who feel strongly opposed to completing a card. The procedure is done in such a way that no one feels personal embarrassment if he or she chooses not to fill out a card.

We will do no home solicitation to ask people to complete cards. During morning worship on October 30, our guest preacher will conduct a brief period of instruction and inspiration, cli-maxed by members making their commitments as a confidential act of worship. As the Conse-cration Sunday Team, we will make every effort to inform, inspire, and commit everyone to at-tend Consecration Sunday worship. We thank you in advance for your enthusiastic participa-tion in our church’s new approach to faithful, spiritual giving.

The Consecration Sunday Team

Charlie Anderson Joe Beaman Max Bolick Larry Hollar Clarence Hood Gaye Hood Judy Ikerd Harris Jones Gina King Harriett Wyatt George Wilkinson Mary Yoder Rev. Lara “Willis” Greene

OCTOBER 2016

Children's Ministries

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Children's Ministries

Sunday School 10:00-10:45 am

Preschool ages 3-5 and K-5th grades

Join us for fun lessons with crafts and games

as we learn great messages.

kids 4 Christ

Wednesdays 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm

Activity Room, Children K-6th grades

It is not to late to join in the fun. We will be singing for the congregation on October 23rd.

Newton Methodist Preschool

Preschool has successfully started off its new school year. We currently have 63 students en-

rolled, but we have room to grow. We have a few openings left if you know of anyone looking

for a half-day preschool. We provide a Christian environment for learning through play and

structured activities. Our program also emphasizes faith development and the enhancement

of Christian values. Please contact Kristi Harvell, Preschool Director at 465-6397 for more

details.

Bible presentation to 2nd graders Anna

Cook, Vance Ervin, and Caleb Miller.

Cara Cadwallader not pictured.

Blessing of the Backpacks for the

beginning of the 2016-2017 school year.

The month of October is jam packed with great events.

Please don't forget to sign-up to help with the Bathroom Ministry at the church during the

Folk Art Festival on Saturday, October 1st. We will have openings from 10:00am to

12:00pm, 12:00 to 2:00pm, and 2:00 to 4:00pm. To sign-up, please contact Julie:

juliebbraswell@gmail.com or 828-464-8422.

Fall Festival, Sunday, October 9th, 3:00 to 6:00pm at the Hood Farm on 2690 Sigmon Dairy

Rd., Newton. You will not want to miss the hay rides, food, games, and crafts with children.

The pumpkins arrive on Friday, October 14th at 4:00pm. Please come and help unload and

arrange. To sign-up for pumpkin sales, please use the Sign-Up Genius:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090b4aaea92fa02-pumpkin1

The Hunger Walk is Sunday, October 16th and the walk begins at

2:00pm. If you are interested in participating, please contact Julie:

juliebbraswell@gmail.com or 828-464-8422.

First Youth Coffee House will meet in the Fellowship Hall on

October 16th and 30th from 4:00 to 6:00pm. Some fun Halloween

activities are planned.

OCTOBER 2016 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Fall into First Youth

New Members

George and Sarah Johnson

Sharing Our Gifts

Sunday Attendance Tithes and

Offerings

Capital

Bldg. Fund

Sept. 4 212 10,347.50 225

Sept. 11 201 9,739.50 410

Sept. 18 207 8,113.50 700

Sept. 25 193 4,654.25 90.00

September Memorials

Muriel Pendleton Current Expense

Sally Sowers Garden Fund

Cheryl Pollard Garden Fund

September Honorariums

Carl & Michelle Wayne Current Expense

Bring a new, plastic

container of peanut

butter or jelly for

Conover School!

On the first Sunday of every month, First

UMC will celebrate PB & J Sunday, a day

designated for everyone to bring either a

plastic container of peanut butter or a plastic

container of jelly.

Methodist Women’s Meeting

The Methodist Women will meet Monday, Oc-

tober 3rd at 2:00pm in the Gomedela Room.

Sylvia Ray, local historian, will present the

program.

Enjoy the Convenience of Electronic Giving. First United Methodist

Church Newton wants to remind you that we offer electronic giving as a

way to automate your regular weekly offering. Electronic giving offers

convenience for individual congregation members and provides much-

needed donation consistency for our congregation. Direct Debit Giving is

used to automatically transfer funds from your checking or savings ac-

count to the church’s bank account. Credit & Debit Card Giving lets you

make offerings automatically on a pre-determined schedule using a

credit or debit card. Online Giving lets you go to

www.fumcnewtonnc.org at any time to set up an automatic donation plan, change your dona-

tion plan, make a one-time donation, or view your online donation history. As you contem-

plate future contributions, please consider electronic giving. Authorization forms and addi-

tional information are available from the church office.

I am pleased to announce the hiring of Ms.

Sarah Luhrs as our new Director of Music

Ministry. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Music de-

gree from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN.

She is a candidate for the Master of Arts in Mu-

sic Education with Choral Concentration. Sarah

has worked as both a Music teacher and a Choir

Director in Elementary Schools in both Florida

and Georgia before moving to Hickory. Her

husband, Ryan, is the new Choir Director at Le-

noir Rhyne University. Sarah and Ryan

have two sons, David and Samuel. We are so

pleased to have Sarah joining our staff and di-

recting our terrific choir. She will officially

start the first of October. Join me in welcoming

Sarah as she leads your choir in singing praises

to the Lord as they assist in the dynamic wor-

ship service at First Church, Newton.

Paul Campbell, Chairperson of SPPRC.

OCTOBER BIRTHDAYSOCTOBER BIRTHDAYSOCTOBER BIRTHDAYSOCTOBER BIRTHDAYS

OCTOBER WEDDING ANNIVERSARIESOCTOBER WEDDING ANNIVERSARIESOCTOBER WEDDING ANNIVERSARIESOCTOBER WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES

Anita Bollinger 10/21

Edna Davidson 10/21

Jennifer Stiver 10/21

Kim Whitener 10/21

Kirsten Setzer 10/23

Jake Sitzer 10/23

Bobby Fowler 10/24

Lisa Sigmon 10/24

Don Pope 10/26

Cynthia Rand 10/26

Holly Cable 10/28

Wayne Hadley 10/28

Keith Mayberry 10/28

Jimmy Burnette Jr. 10/29

Jane Clark 10/30

Matthew Fletcher 10/30

Kevin Forsyth 10/30

Kyle Sigmon 10/30

Dawn Stephens 10/31

Clint Trivette 10/31

Steve Arndt 10/1

Brian Mayberry 10/1

Donnie Holbrook 10/3

Lindsay McKay 10/3

Jessie Raeford 10/3

Frances Petree 10/5

Owen Sims 10/5

Haskew Smith 10/5

Melissa Ervin 10/6

Alan Martin 10/6

Gavin Sias 10/6

Meagan Sias 10/6

Riggins Burnette 10/8

Anna Simanovich 10/8

Jimmy Newsome 10/9

Diane Smith 10/9

Greg Cranford 10/10

Amy Hollingsworth 10/10

Joel McCombs 10/10

Kristi Harvell 10/11

Derek Jackson 10/11

Nancy Burgess 10/13

Regina Copeland 10/13

Olivia Sitzer 10/13

Michi Hayhurst 10/14

Tim Barkley 10/15

Jeff Carter 10/16

Ashley Lamb 10/16

Brandon Cavin 10/17

Larry Gregory 10/17

Megan Hildebran 10/17

Haley Brown 10/19

Maddy Clontz 10/20

Clarence Hood Jr. 10/20

Cole Poovey 10/20

Brenda Reynolds 10/20

Anna White 10/20

Neal Auspitz 10/21

Josh & Megan Stephens 10/4

Garrett & Tonya Moss 10/5

Michael & Kelly Hollar 10/7

Jim & Libby Mauney II 10/7

Brian & Brooke Roberts 10/9

Gary Fay & Cecilia Chiok 10/10

George & Sarah Johnson 10/17

Ken & Dianne Hollar 10/18

Randy & Bev Underwood 10/21

David & Sandra Hardin 10/23

Danny & Tracy Wilson 10/24

Thursday, October 13 in the Fellowship Hall

Coffee/cookies available at 9:30am

Devotion: Rev. Lara “Willis” Greene

Program: begins at 10:00am

Michiko Hayhurst

Lunch: 12:00pm

Chicken Pie, Rice/Gravy, Slaw, Rolls, Homemade Desserts

Donations accepted. Reservations required.

Sunday, October 9th

Clarence & Gaye Hood's Farm

2690 Sigmon Dairy Road, Newton

3:00 to 6:00pm

Dinner at 4:30pm It is finally that time of year again when the colors will be

changing and the temperatures will be turning cooler. This

also means the Fall Festival is fast approaching. There will be

tons of great food to go along with the BBQ and hot dogs.

Children will enjoy crafts and games. You will not want to

miss out on a hay ride around the Hood Farm. Please use the

Sign-Up Genius http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090b4aaea92fa02-fall

to notate what food you will bring to share. A sign-up list will also be available at the Welcome

Center. Don't forget to bring a chair or blanket.

Trunk or Treat

Saturday, Oct. 29th 5:00to 8:00 pm

Decorate your car and yourself, and bring lots of candy,

as we join in the

Newton’s Spooktacular Festival.

We will make spaces at the front of the church (Main Ave) for you.

Please call Julie at 828-464-8422 to reserve your parking spot.