The AUGUST 2018 Newsletter for First UMC Family and Friends
First United Methodist Messenger Rockingham, NC
Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
Greetings in the Name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour. The One Who Is, the One Who Was, and the One Who Is to Come! Three decades ago I was preparing to enter seminary and traveled like some of you all have to a summer con-ference at Lake Junaluska. The missions week was filled with skills training for leading a Volunteers-In-Mission work team, listening to missionaries describe their work around the world, and hearing the preaching and teaching of Albert Outler, one of Methodism’s great scholars. It was a great time of learning before the season of learning intellectually and practically. The biggest practical lesson for church life that week occurred at the elevator. A group pushed onto the eleva-tor and a bishop from Latin America rushed toward the door. We held the door and he said, “Thank you!” Someone responded, “We were glad to hold the elevator for you Bishop.” The bishop said, “We become part of the church at baptism. We should call ourselves by our baptized names. My name is Juan.” From that mo-ment to this day, I make it my practice to be called by my baptized name of Allen. Later that summer, I packed my Plymouth Reliant with clothes, books, and a coffee maker and headed north on I-95 through Washington, Philadelphia, and Neward to the off-ramp for NJ-24 which led to the little town of Madison. On the edge of Madison was the two-hundred-acre campus of Drew University, known to its alumni as “The Oaks”. When I studied the work of pastor as described by Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, I found these words: “The work of the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher is to equip the saints for the work of minis-try” (Ephesians 4:11). The bishop’s lesson returned to me as I realized in a fresh way that my work as a pastor was to help others claim the title of minister for themselves. Pastor, music ministers, youth pastors, children’s ministers were not “hired guns” to do the work of others, rather they were persons called to equip others for ministry. I failed when I first arrived here to state a simple truth about ministry. The ministers of First United Methodist Church of Rockingham are the baptized of this congregation. Minister is not a title reserved for the ordained, it’s a title for the baptized. My work as your pastor is to help you be the minister you are called by God to be. So let’s get to work! Grace and Peace, ALLEN
Mac Bennett
Bob and Peggy Boyette
Claudette Brownley
Aurelia Cannon
Jean Crouch
Faith Ford
Denny Glennon
Helen Goodman
Jean Haltiwanger
Barbara McLain
Henry Meacham, Jr.
Ava Nance
John and Eleanor Page
Faye Poplin
Billy and Delma Reynolds
Dorsey Short
Aileen Traylor
Our country, Our servicemen and women
In memory of……
Sam Nance Nathan and Marie Davis Lib Iseman Barbara McLain Wayne and Mary Stogner
August
5th Cooper McLaurin 12th 19th Benson Crotts 26th
Cost is $38 for altar flowers and $28 for
flowers on the organ. Please call the church
office to let us know who you are honoring.
1st Don Pratt 3rd Will Abrams Trent Deane Krista Edwards Dianne Stafford 4th Matthew Guncheon 5th Sylvia Ballard Priscilla Kindley 12th Kellie Clay 19th Anna Odom 21st Ann Crotts 24th Braxton Furstein 26th Nicole Johnson Debra Parsons 30th Joshua Griffith
1st Kevin & Irene Aiken 2nd Larry & Patty Bowden 10th Greg & Cornelia McKenzie 16th David & Peggy Anderson 17th Bob & Rachel Ellwanger 18th Alden & Susan Webb 27th Don & Carol Pratt
To add your name to our birthday or anniversary lists, call the church office, or email Cornelia at [email protected].
To My Whole Church “Family”:
I want to thank you for the many, many times we worshipped
together in my First United Methodist Church. You have been my peace
and inspiration and most of all love in my life.
God Bless each one of you. Continue in our Lord’s work.
Sincerely,
Martha Scarborough
Holy Smoke needs your help!
The Planning Committee for the Holy
Smoke BBQ and Music Festival is looking
for assistants to help Team Captains in
Ticket Sales, Signs, Traffic and
Volunteers. The Committee will meet
once in August and twice in September.
If YOU have questions or would like to
help us plan this year ’ s Holy Smoke
event, please call Sharon at
910/331-9965.
Servers for August
Ushers Steve Webb Team
Heat/AC Hilton Haines and Jim Haines
Crucifer Aug 5 Mason Bailey Aug 12 Shelby Matheson Aug 19 Lilly Matheson Aug 26 Jessie Matheson Acolytes Aug 5 Graham Odom and Devin Morgan Aug 12 Trent Deane and Allie Matheson Aug 19 John Patrick Hutchinson and Parker Medlin Aug 26 Shelby Diggs and Abigail Miller TV Ministry Duff Morse Nursery: Aug 5 Judy Mabe Aug 12 Leigh Ann Ray Aug 19 Aimee Diggs Aug 26 Jadyn Johnson Greeters: Aug 5 Teddy Moseley Myers Waddell Aug 12 Jim Haines Debra Parsons Aug 19 Bill and Carole Frye Josh Griffith Aug 26 Glenda Hughes Gaynelle Moon RC Soup Kitchen Leader: Aug 22 VOLUNTEER NEEDED Fellowship Aug 5 Benson Crotts Aug 12 John Thomas Aug 19 Jeff Hughes Aug 26 Glenn Alexander Hedge Prayer First Sunday Discovery Young Adult Class Second Sunday The Bible Class Third Sunday Cross Currents Class Fourth Sunday Ladies Bible Class Hermitage Ministry First Monday East Rockingham UMC Second Monday Third Monday Joyce Smith Fourth Monday Randy & Margaret Leak, Audrey Ewing
August Lectionary Readings
Week of August 5
2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a
Psalm 51:1-12 (UMH 785)
Ephesians 4:1-16
John 6:24-35
Week of August 12
2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
Psalm 130 (UMH 848)
Ephesians 4:25-5:2
John 6:35, 41-51
Week of August 19
1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14
Psalm 111 (UMH 832)
Ephesians 5:15-20
John 6:51-58
Week of August 26
1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43
Psalm 84 (UMH 804)
Ephesians 6:10-20
John 6:56-69
ZOE SUNDAY
Is
August 26
Adults can add pennies/money to “Pennies for Zoe”. You can give your money to a child to bring up during Children’s Time on Zoe Sunday or leave it by the offering plate for Zoe for a child to empty in the Zoe Pot. Thanks for your help and support for “Pennies for Zoe”! For more information or to read stories about Zoe, you can go to www.zoehelps.org.
What ’ s Your Address???
If you are headed off to college and
would like to share your college
address with your church family, please
call the church office. We will publish
your address in the September Newsletter.
Encouraging letters from HOME are always GREAT to get!!
Let all that life demands of you PAUSE with a calling to spend time with the Father in the
New Worship Service.
Weekly Services will be Thursdays 6-7 pm
and Saturdays 5-6 pm in the Bynum Building, 400 E. Washington Street.
The first official PAUSE Worship Night will be Saturday, September 8, 5-6 pm with a soft launch in our community as we develop toward the Official Opening in October.
Encounter. is an opportunity for each of us to plug in to the
needs and serve our community in various capacities. There will be
monthly to bi-monthly Encounter. events to connect you with
the community.
The first is coming up in September!
In connection with our first PAUSE Worship Service, we will
host a “PAUSE and Encounter.” Event on
Thursday, September 6, 5:30-7:30 pm, where we combine worship opportunities with community fun and exciting activities for the children of Richmond County. How will it work? While Plaza Jam is going on, children can come visit the courtyard-parking lot of FUMC and participate in games and activities FREE of charge with treats and other kid friendly goodies to purchase (or donated on behalf of a child who may not be able to afford it.)
We will play and worship together in love!
We have the opportunity to Encounter. Jesus in the eyes of those
with whom we play, love, and serve. Please join us! Volunteers are most welcome! If you can smile, laugh, and love to play, you are already qualified! See Kelly for more details!
Each Encounter. event will be different. We encourage you to pick one where you know you can share His love in the eyes of others.
Kona Ice is
Coming!!
Along with our PAUSE and Encounter. event, we will have the Kona Ice truck here to provide a free treat to the children
within the community enjoying the Plaza Jam event. Sharing kindness, joy, and community love to our neighbors. If you would like to partner with us and sponsor a snow cone Ticket for $2.00, please contact Kelly or drop your donation in the offering plate.
This will be our first opportunity to Encounter. and serve within our community with these events.
Join us on September 6 when we focus on children!
TAX PLANNING IDEAS FOR SENIORS by Larry Clay
Are you a senior citizen with an IRA, 401-k or other retirement plan? If so, the 2018 federal tax act will probably affect you.
If you have been itemizing your deductions in the past, you may not be able to do so in 2018 and the future. Instead, your increased standard deduc-
tion may exceed your itemized deductions. This would mean that your charitable contributions, including those to the Church will not be of a tax
benefit to you.
If this is the case, a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA, 401-k or other retirement plan might be a benefit to you. A QCD is a
distribution straight from your IRA, 401-k or other retirement plan to the Church or other charitable organization. By doing a QCD instead of a dis-
tribution to you and then you writing a check to the Church, your Adjusted Gross Income, and therefore, your taxable income will be reduced. This
will reduce your federal income tax liability.
Even if you are still able to itemize your deductions, a QCD can still be of benefit. With your Adjusted Gross Income reduced, your Social Security
or Railroad Retirement Income that is taxable will be reduced since their taxable portion is calculated based on your Adjusted Gross Income without
regard to the Social Security or Railroad Retirement income. In addition, your deductible medical expenses and your itemized deductions will be
increased since they are generally reduced by a percentage of your Adjusted Gross Income. If Adjusted Gross Income is lower, the percentage of non
-deductible medical expenses and non-deductible itemized deductions is decreased.
A Qualified Charitable Distribution will be of little benefit to you for North Carolina income taxes unless you are at least 70 & 1/2 years of age.
I set up a QCD in 2017 and used it to pay my pledge in 2017. By doing so, I saved nearly $900 in taxes for 2017 under the tax law for 2017. Under
the new law for 2018, I have projected a tax savings of nearly $1,600. I set up my QCD to pay my pledge on a monthly basis so that the Church will
have a steady income stream, and if I am traveling, the Church receives my donation even when I am not in Church. You can set up monthly pay-
ments or a lump sum payment. If you should decide to set up a QCD, let the Church’s financial secretary (Cornelia) know as she should not put it on
your record of giving. Only extra donations (memorials, flowers, etc.) should go on the record of giving.
In addition, you should note that the Form 1099-R you receive for distributions from your IRA, 401-k and other retirement plans will show the total
distributions, including the QCD, but only the distributions without the QCD is taxable.
As always, you should have your tax advisor run the numbers to see if a QCD will be of benefit to you. Your tax savings will differ from mine due to
your having a different income and your Church pledge being different.
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
12 noon DAR, Rm 101
4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development
2
3 4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development
4
5
9:30 SS Fellowship 10:00 Sunday School 10:55 Worship
7:00 Worship Design Team
6 10:00 First Place Bible Study 6:30 Lay Leadership/ Nominations Committee, CR
7 10:00 Tuesday Morning Bible Study, Chapel
7:00 God’s Gorgeous Butterflies BB
8 4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development 5:30 Worship Design Team
9
12 noon—3:00 pm Art Guild, Rm 101
10 4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development
11
12 9:30 SS Fellowship 10:00 Sunday School 10:55 Worship Gary Boyette - Preaching 7:00 Worship Design Team
13 10:00 First Place Bible Study 6:00 Civitans, Rm 101 6:30 Lay Leadership/ Nominations Committee, CR
14 10:00 Tuesday Morning Bible Study, Chapel 7:00 God’s Gorgeous Butterflies BB
15
4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development
16 17
4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development
18
19 9:30 SS Fellowship 10:00 Sunday School 10:55 Worship 1 pm-6 pm FH Reserved 2:00-9:00 Youth & Adult Leaders— SALT 2017 7:00 Worship Design Team
20
10:00 First Place Bible Study 6:30 pm PPRC, CR
21 10:00 Tuesday Morning Bible Study, Chapel
7:00 God’s Gorgeous Butterflies BB
22
11:00 Soup Kitchen VOLUNTEER NEEDED
4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development
23 11am—2 pm Connections, FH 12 noon—3:00 pm Art Guild, Rm 101
24
4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development
25 2 pm—4 pm Bridal Shower for Taylor Webb, FH
26 9:30 SS Fellowship 10:00 Sunday School 10:55 Worship
ZOE Sunday 4:00-7:00 Youth Back to School Pool Party 7:00 Worship Design Team
27 10:00 First Place Bible Study 6:00 Civitans, Rm 101 6:30 pm Finance Committee CR
28 10:00 Tuesday Morning Bible Study, Chapel
7:00 God’s Gorgeous Butterflies BB
29
4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development
30
FUMC Children
Vacation Bible School with FUMC,
FPC, and FBC was a HUGE SUCCESS!!!
Thank you to all who prayed, sent snacks and supplies, volunteered, and partici-
pated in Rolling River Rampage Vacation School. We had a great week with all our
children and adults. For our VBS mission project, the children raised $256 plus pet
supplies for The Richmond County Humane Society.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. Isaiah 43:2
WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM at
First United Methodist Church 401 E. Washington Street, Rockingham, NC
(910– 895-4027)
For ALL Kids in Kindergarten—6th Grade 3:30—5:00 pm on Wednesdays
Bus transportation for LJBell and Washington Street Schools Car Riders are Welcome
September 5, 2018—May 29, 2019 (follow school calendar)
Snacks, Bible Stories, Music, Crafts, and More Call the church office for more details and/or for a registration form
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Wonderful Wednesday
Afterschool Program
We need volunteers from 3:30—5:00
pm on Wednesdays. You can work one
Wednesday or every Wednesday or
just be in charge of serving snacks.
We NEED your help!! Please consider
the opportunity to make a difference
in our children by volunteering. It’s
very easy to become a volunteer—just
call Mary Griffith at 895-4027 or
email at [email protected]
Youth Calendar for August 2018
August 19 2:00—9:00 pm SALT 2017 (Student and Adult Leadership) Annual Youth Ministry Training event for youth and the adults who work with them. We will leave the church at 2:00 pm for the event, and stop for dinner on the way back, planning to return to the church about 9:00 pm. Bring dinner money. This will be an afternoon of inspiration and equipping our youth and leaders. Each session will include: * Games with a Purpose—ideas! * Communications/Social Media—tools and best practices * What a Lead Pastor Desires in the Youth Ministry of their Church * Planning Your Next Short-Term Mission Experience—A Plan * A Place at the Table—Ministry to and with special needs youth * Young Adults/The Missing Generation—A strategy for outreach August 26 4:00—7:00 pm Back To School Pool Party Bring your favorite snack to share. Pizza and drinks will be served. September 9 5:00—7:30 pm Youth and Family Night and Cook Out We would like to invite all the youth and their families to “Family Night and Cook Out”. This will be a time to get to know all youth and their parents! Bring your favorite side dish and/or a dessert. Hamburgers and drinks will be provided.
Think Orange
We can DO MORE TOGETHER to make a difference in the life of every child.
WE SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE when…
Parents and small group leaders work toward common goals
The church and the home speak a common language
An entire community champions common values
We are starting a new curriculum here at First Church where we can DO MORE
TOGETHER to make a difference in the life of every child and parent with ONE
VOICE.
The curriculum “Orange” is a symbol of what can happen when the LIFE OF THE
CHURCH (YELLOW) combines with the HEART OF THE HOME (RED) to make “Orange”
aligning our efforts to impact kids and teenagers with the idea that leaders and parents
can be ONE VOICE in the life of a child.
We Will Need Volunteers:
It is time we get volunteers to know our kids, teenagers, and parents! Volunteers will
be “a champion” (a volunteer or small group leader) to different age groups and parents.
Who would like to get on board so we can DO MORE TOGETHER for our families?
If you are interested in finding out how you can get involved, please see
Allen Bingham or Mary Griffith. WATCH THE BULLETIN FOR MORE DETAILS!
First United Methodist Church
P. O. Box 637 Rockingham, NC 28380
Web Site www.fumcrockingham.org
Address service requested
Non-Profit
Organization
US Postage
PAID
Permit No. 23
Rockingham, NC
First United Methodist Messenger August 2018
Church Office
Hours:
Monday –Thursday
8:30 am—5:00 pm
Our phone: 910-895-4027
Our fax: 910-895-4028
Extensions:
Secretary: 100
Financial: 101
Missions: 102
Youth: 103
Pastor: 105
Resident Bishop
Hope Morgan Ward
Gateway District
Superintendent
Our Staff
Senior Pastor
Allen Bingham [email protected]
Minister of Community
Mary Griffith [email protected]
Minister of Missions
Kelly Wheeler
Organist Helen Alexander
Music Co-Directors
Statha Osborne [email protected]
Chuck Wright
Financial Secretary
Cornelia McKenzie [email protected]
Secretary
Beth G. McQueen
Caring for Our Children
Tabatha Miller
Church Maintenance
Al Floyd
RC Soup Kitchen in
Hamlet Leader for the
Month of AUGUST
VOLUNTEER
NEEDED
Thank you for
volunteering for this
very important
Church Mission.
Mark your calendar!
Merry Makers! are active adults over 55 who
get together once a month for lunch, shows, trips
and surprises. You are invited to join us at
11 am on Thursday, Sept. 13 in the Fellow-
ship Hall when we learn about the cool plans for
this season!
Come see what this fun-activity-adventure
group is doing!
Please pray for our school teachers as they go back to work this month.
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