RH and be led forth in peace · 2021. 2. 11. · 11 Buddy Ritch (91) 830 Westminster Lane Kinston,...

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

As fireworks go off and horns are blown, as confetti falls and Auld Lang Syne

is sung, the New Year is greeted with hugs, kisses, cheers, and high hopes.

365 bright, shiny, new “clean slate” days are waiting to be filled!

As Frank Sinatra croons “The Best Is Yet To Come” in the background,

we can’t help but make our list of how we and our lives are going to be better in 2020.

But...before we leap into all things new...what about 2019?

How will we leave this year that we have just lived?

How will we leave the past 365 days and all that filled them?

When it comes to 2019, are we like the disciples when leaving an unwelcoming town?

Are we shaking the dust off our feet and washing our hands of the whole darn thing?

Certainly there were blessings, reasons to celebrate, to shout “WOOHOO!”

and to say many, many heartfelt Happy-leuias!

But there were definitely struggles too.

Struggles…and losses.

As a church family, we’ve shared, prayed, and journeyed through many together.

Yet, there are also experiences, challenges, struggles and losses that aren’t

known by everyone.

Some are known by a few, some are known only to us and to God.

It’s those moments I’m thinking about.

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January

2020

You shall go out with joy

and be led forth in peace Isaiah 55:12

How exciting is the hope that the New Year will only be filled

with the best of ourselves, the best of others, and the best of life?!

Absolutely there were more gifts from God than we can count

and assuredly more than we realize!

What about those parts of 2019? The hard moments and the difficult days?

How will we leave them?

Catherrine McNiel writes in her blog Everyday Ephiphanies, about taking a walk on her

birthday with the intention of letting go of the past year and welcoming a brand new year.

As she was walking and praying she heard this God-thought over and over:

I became aware of a thought bouncing around in my head, growing slowly clearer,

as though it were coming towards me, or I towards it. The thought was this:

“Will you receive the gift of this year?"

She writes that she opened her arms and whispered

“Yes I accept the gift of this coming year!”

And immediately she says,

I found myself gently rebuffed as another thought seared my mind.

“No, it is not the year to come I am offering...

It is the gift of the year you have just completed I am extending.”

Catherine McNiel says that the question took her breath away,

because that question got to the heart of things in a way she hadn’t planned.

“Will I? Will I accept the precious gift of the past twelve months with all their struggle and

pain...and all their beauty and joy? This was an entirely different question.”

Before we begin to write on the blank pages of 2020, can we make our Preface

“Thank You God”?

Thank You God for what was good and wonderful, of course.

But also, Thank You God for what was hard?

Thank You God for what we didn't understand. Thank You God for the struggle.

Thank You God for all those times we were brought to our knees...in grief, in worry,

because of loss, because of failure, because of so many things beyond our control.

Are we willing to receive ALL of the gifts of 2019?

In order to thank God, we have to trust God—even when we don’t understand.

Perhaps it will help if we remember these words of Paul:

“...the Spirit helps us in our weakness...And we know that in all things God works for the good

of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” Romans 8:26, 28

I am so very thankful to have had the honor, privilege and joy of journeying with you in

ministry in 2019! So very thankful for God’s presence with us—guiding us and growing us!

And I am so very humbled and thankful to begin a new year of new adventures,

new challenges, new ministries and new life with you in 2020 as we…

Go out with JOY and are led forth in PEACE!

Happy New Year! Thank You God!

Always thankful for you, Dena

“I give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,

and I will glorify Your name forever.” Psalm 82:12

It’s a wonderful question. It’s a telling question.

It tells us about us, and it tells us about us and God.

3

13 Vickie & Dorsey Tyndall 17 Rosa & Bob Lanier 67 years! 25 Sue & Russell Bartholomew

1 Debbie Reeves

Meghan Thompson Gordon

3 Eryn McKenrick

Rylee McKenrick

4 Terry Overton

5 Dale Warner Karli Wiggins

Alice Campbell

Debra Stewart - Thursday morning Bible Study

7 Reagan Perry Kaitlyn McCarter Earl Keith

Rachel Robinson

Evan -Thursday morning Bible Study

8 Amy Parris

Marie Stokes

9 Sallie Combs

Stephen Kivett

Cassidy - Fred Harrison Class

10 Cameron Pope

Tim Smith

11 Buddy Ritch (91)

830 Westminster Lane

Kinston, NC 28501

Dee Smith

12 Nora Ellen Darby

Ava - Coffee Church

Emma - Coffee Church

13 Dickie Hawkins

16 Samantha Waida Rouse

Emma Drew - Coffee Church

18 Grayson Kass

19 Candy Beaman

Lois Pressly

20 Rebecca Harrison

Sherrie Smith - Fred Harrison Class

22 Jill Croom

Doris May

Ed Waida

Coy Carlyle

23 Ashton McCarter

Wrenn McCrae Whitfield

26 Scott Crocker

David Tolliver

27 Trey Martin Libby Kivett Brandon Rouse

Kahliya - Harrison Smith Class

29 Karen Oliver Heritage Elite 910 North Herritage Street Kinston, NC 28501

29 Ben Roberson

31 Jackie Shivar

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!

Mission Spotlight:

InterChurch OutReach

ICOR is a united effort of Kinston area churches to reach out to help people in

crisis. So many people live paycheck to paycheck. When an accident or

emergency happens, they need help. Donations to ICOR can help a mother

who is short of food this month, an injured worker who can’t afford his

medication, or a family whose utility bill is unusually high because of extreme

weather. ICOR helps neighbors in crisis to meet immediate needs, but they

also counsel and advise regarding financial responsibility. Your support is

appreciated through food and monetary donations. They are also always in

need of volunteers. If you can help, call 252-522-4357 or email

[email protected]

ANGEL TREE THANK YOU

The Mission Committee would like to thank everyone who

participated in our Angel Tree Program. We served 23 families, 50

children. We could not do this without your support—from those who

made the initial contact with the families, gift purchasers, financial

donators, party preparers, our youth who presented the Gospel,

photographer, pastor, and gift distribution. From start to finish each

and every role is important and we thank you. Special thanks go to

Wanda Outlaw for coordinating the program and to Lauren Chesson

for her work with our youth and the children’s programs. Thank you

all for sharing God’s love and remember to keep the children and their

families in your prayers throughout the year.

AGELESS WONDERS

STAY TUNED

PLANS ARE BEING MADE

WE WILL KEEP YOU POSTED!

January 2020 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

6:30 Men’s Prayer Breakfast

Happy New Year

Church Office Closed

2

3 Scouts—Bus

4 Scouts—Bus

5 Scouts—Bus

8:45 Worship Service

10:00 Sunday School/

Growth Groups


6

Preschool

resumes

10:00 Prayer

Shawl Ministry

7

10:30 My One Word

2 Communion

3:45-4:45 Children’s Group Meeting Resumes

4:45-5:30 Jubilate Resumes

6:30 Scouts

8


12:00 WUMC Hosting Association of Congregations

5:30 Chancel Bells

6:30 Chancel Choir

9

10:30 Bible Study resumes

5:30 Praise Band Practice

6:30 Girl Scouts/Brownies

6:30 Coffee Church Resumes

10

Church Reserved

4 until

11

Church Reserved

all day

12

8:00 Church Breakfast



Growth Groups


5:00 MS/HS Groups

13

10:00 Prayer

Shawl Ministry

14

2 Communion

3:45-4:45 Children’s Group Meeting

4:45-5:30 Jubilate

6:30 Scouts

15


5:30 Chancel Bells

6:30 Chancel Choir

16

10:30 Bible Study



6:30 Coffee Church

17 18

9-1 Council on

Ministries Retreat

with Committees

& lunch provided

19



Growth Groups


5:00 MS/HS Groups

20

PS Closed

10:00 Prayer

Shawl Ministry

21

2 Communion


4:45-5:30 Jubilate

6:30 Scouts

22


5:30 Chancel Bells

6:30 Chancel Choir

23

10:30 Bible Study



6:30 Coffee Church

24 25

26



Growth Groups


3:00 Eagle Scout

Ceremony- Sanctuary &

Fellowship Hall

5:00 MS/HS Groups

27

10:00 Prayer

Shawl Ministry

3:00 Lena

Seymour Circle

28

11:30 Circle of

Joy @ Queen St.

Deli

2 Communion


4:45-5:30 Jubilate

6:30 Scouts

29


5:30 Chancel Bells

6:30 Chancel Choir

30

10:30 Bible Study



6:30 Coffee Church

31

Scouts—Bus

February 1

Scouts—Bus

5

“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”

As we start the

New Year,

let us strive

to live by

the wise words

of John Wesley!

The Dora Stover Ziegler Family

Mother of Bruce Ziegler (Cindy)

3020 Jenny Lind Road

LaGrange, NC 28551

The Dr. Simmons Patrick Family

Step father of Loren Edwards (Beth)

1803 Cambridge Drive

Kinston, NC 28504

The Arthur Jack Herring Family

Jimmy Herring’s brother (Linda) 2640 Pinewood Drive,

Kinston, NC 28504

The Family of Dawnie McFarland Vujovich

Pastor Dena’s Aunt and her father’s sister Mr. Dean McFarland

5925 Inland Greens Drive Wilmington, NC 28405

Dear Church Members!!!

I apologize from us for this very tardy thank you! We

have been overwhelmed by all the help, the guidance, the food,

moving, phone calls, flowers and a family of help. I cannot

acknowledge all of you by name but each of you must know

how much it meant to us and will always love you for what you

did.

We are finally settled in our new abode and getting to

appreciate all your efforts to get us here and all of your hard

work!

Special thanks to Debbie Chused, Paul and her mother,

Pat Rockenhauser, Margie Cato and all the wonderful cooks

who brought food and helped so much to keep things moving!

We are so blessed to have such a great church family!

Love all of you and please come visit Room #12!

Doris and Les May

This is a special message from “Sweet Pea May!

I want all of you at WUMC know how much I am

enjoying my new Home!! I have great visitors all

day long and plenty of play time. Also, my one

squirrel and bird feeders to watch through the

window-keep me entertained! I do love it and thank

you for helping us get here. Please come to visit at

Room #112.

Love ya!!! Sweet Pea

CHURCH BREAKFAST

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12TH

FREE TO ALL!!!

COME EAT AND FELLOWSHIP!!

A Special Thank You From the Worship Committee

The Worship Committee thanks each of you who helped decorate

the church this Advent and Christmas.

Special thanks to Rob Barker for climbing our tallest ladder and

hanging our highest pieces!

Prayer Shawl Girls who unstuffed bows, hung outdoor wreaths and

prepared the Christmas Eve candles!

A big thank you to Amy Parris for decorating the Chrismon tree with

help from Carl Milligan.

Thanks to Hylton, Jerry Henderson, Rich Barmore with instructions

from Harrison Smith for assembling the poinsettia tree.

Hylton Dunkley and Linda Smith for watering the plants each week.

A thank you to Evelyn Mozingo for the beautiful poinsettias and

putting on the finishing touches!

We also offer special thanks to those who purchased poinsettias for

our tree and gave funds toward the decorations.

The decorating and maintaining of our church is truly a gift of many

caring hearts and hands.

We give thanks to all as we serve for the glory of Christ our Savior!

Jane Garner and Ann Robinson

Meow,

Meow!!

Joyce & Allen Taylor’s

home

Axe Throwing Outing!

Christmas Caroling and Christmas Dinner 2019

Skill Creations

Pilgrimage 2019 picture! Did they drive our Pastor crazy?

7

New Year, New Word Happy New Year! In the midst of all the Christmas action, I hope you felt and

experienced an invitation to enter into Christ’s presence as you entered into the

Christmas story. As you approached the manger to welcome the Christ child, I

pray that his welcoming spirit filled you with love, peace, joy, and hope for your

own lives and for the world. If that was not your reality, if your burdens just felt a little too heavy this time,

I hope that you’ll remember that God loves you wherever you are on your journey. Your feelings and struggles are real to

God. I pray that they would be real to this church community, so that we can encircle you with support. Remember,

Christmas is an important milestone in God’s continuing, loving, faithful offer of relationship to God’s people. May

Christmas for us be an important reminder of God’s commitment to us, and God’s call

to commit ourselves to loving and faithful relationships with others as we embark on

this new year.

This prayer for relationship brings me to the theme for this newsletter: a new word for a

new year. Last year, my one word for both my personal life and my professional life was

INVITE or INVITATION. This year, my word is RELATE or RELATIONSHIP. Both of these

words describe values that are important to me as a parent and as a children’s ministry

leader. In the child development field, it is recognized that children are at their best

when they experience a deep sense of unconditional belonging and connection with

caregivers and trusted adults. Aren’t we all at our best when we experience this kind of

relationship with another? The good news is that our First Parent, our most trustworthy

Caregiver, is a God of unconditional love and belonging and connection. We see the

proof of this truth in Jesus. When we were in trouble, God came TO us. God didn’t turn

away; instead, God came closer, to walk among us in Jesus. When Jesus encountered an

outcast or a “sinner” or someone vulnerable (people who didn’t belong), what did he

do? He heard them, he embraced them, he blessed them, he forgave them, he served

them, and he welcomed them. They always walked away with a new sense of identity,

of being worthy of God’s love. Jesus INVITED others into relationship, and he RELATED

to them in a way that recognized their worth and value. Let me leave you with some

questions for reflection:

What actions have you taken or what words have you spoken to recognize the value and worth of children in our church?

Do our church’s children sense that they belong by the way that we welcome their presence? Is our church inviting to children?

As a parent or caregiver, how have you sought to connect with your child/ren in love? If they had the words, would they say they were loved unconditionally? Do they know without a doubt that their presence in your family is a blessing?

As you reflect upon these questions, know that I am thinking about them myself. My

focus this year will be to intentionally seek to connect and build relationship with those under my care as

children’s minister. That includes volunteers, caregivers, and children. My focus will be to create

opportunities for our congregation of all ages to grow in relationship, both with God and with one anoth-

er. I ask you to pray for God’s leading for this ministry and for God to reveal relationship-building

opportunities. Thank you for your continued support and prayers for this ministry, for our families, and for

our children and youth.

January 7 (Tuesday):

Children’s Group, 3:45-4:45

Children’s Choir, 4:45-5:30


Children’s Group Meeting, 3:45-4:45







LOOKING FORWARD

From Lauren Chesson, Director Children and Family Ministries

Westminster United Methodist Church

PO Box 1007

Kinston, NC 28503

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Church Phone: 252-522-3334 Fax: 252-522-0143

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.westminsterumc.net

Facebook: WUMCKinston YouTube: wumclive

Instagram: wumckinston and wumckinston youth

Church Office Hours:

Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

The Church Office is closed on Fridays

Come Join Us!!!

Thursday nights

6:30 p. m.

Beginning January 9th

As we begin our bible

study

on

“Fierce”

Learn from the fierce women of God

who changed the world.

In this study we will look at

lesser-known female characters

in the Bible

and the ways they changed the world

by living into God’s calling.

Rev. Dena M. White , Pastor 252.522.3334 ext. 1 or cell 910-894-0867

Michell Sutton Eguez, Administrative Assistant, Ext. 2 or Cell: 252.671.5293

Alice Campbell, Director of Music, Ext. 5 or Cell: 941.223.7172

Lauren Chesson, Minister of Children and Family, Ext. 3 cell: 919.673.6210

Susan Price, Preschool Director, Ext. 4

April Jones, Sunday Toddler Nursery Mary Margaret Hill, Infant Nursery

Hylton Dunkley, Sexton

My One Word

Isaiah 30:21

“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,

‘This is the way, walk in it,’

when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”

What WORD would God pick for you…

to guide your steps, your choices, your growth in 2020?

Instead of a New Year’s resolution,

PICK A WORD.

Our study begins February 4th at 10:30

in Westminster Conference Room

Psalm 119:105

“Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.”

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RH and be led forth in peace · 2021. 2. 11. · 11 Buddy Ritch (91) 830 Westminster Lane Kinston,...

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Transcript of RH and be led forth in peace · 2021. 2. 11. · 11 Buddy Ritch (91) 830 Westminster Lane Kinston,...