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Trusting God in the Face of Anxiety
There is a rising level of anxiety in society today. Many individuals and families are anxious. I think of situations that can create anxiety in families - a new job, job loss, sickness, grief over the death of a family member, abuse, domestic violence, depression, alcohol or drug abuse, the birth of a child, and children leaving home.
Then there is anxiety from the divisions and the rancor that we are now experiencing in our country. As I write this article, the impeachment trial of President Trump - only the third such trial in the history of our nation - is occurring.
We in the United Methodist Church are experiencing some uncertainty about the future because of what General Conference in May could approve or may not enact. Anxiety can creep in when there is the prospect of change beyond our control.
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The Future and Our Mission Will Be Examined March 1
The future of the United Methodist Church and the mission of First United Methodist Church will be the theme of a
special, combined worship service planned for Sunday, March 1, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in the sanctuary.
A panel discussion will be utilized for part of the service. Panelists will review the various proposals before General Conference which will be held in Minneapolis on
May 5-15. This will include the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation. The panel will examine how these plans might affect our congregation. The panel will also reflect on the mission of First United Methodist Church and how we are working to fulfill that mission.
There will be an opportunity to submit questions for the panel at this service.
A covered-dish luncheon will follow worship in the fellowship hall.
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Sermon Series:
"It's Personal! - Building Christlike
Personal Relationships"
Through February 2020
Building relationships of depth, following the example of Christ, is the essence of what it means to live a courageous, meaningful and fulfilling life. Authentic relationships communicate value, connection and the potential of a person to do good. Building these relationships is beneficial in families, at school, in small groups, in family ministry, at work, and at church. This sermon series examines a life-transforming encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus to provide helpful ways to build relationships.
Click here for sermon titles. |
Boy Scout Sunday -
February 9
Pack 5 Cub Scouts and Troop 5 Boy Scouts will be attending the
9 a.m. worship service Sunday, February 9.
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Thank You!
In November, a challenge was issued to raise at least $1000.00 for three of our endowment funds: The Jay Powell General Endowment Fund, The Property Maintenance Fund and The Lillian Boney Maintenance Fund. Thanks to your generosity, we exceeded this challenge; and together with the $1000.00 match, we raised a total of $2,655.00. This will be sent to the United Methodist Foundation where it will be added to the principal of these funds. There it will work to help fund a portion of our church's operations not only this year but far into the future.
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Costa Rica VIM January 8-19, 2020
We have just returned from 12 beautiful days working with Wil Bailey and Costa Rica Mission Projects in Rio Cuarto, Costa Rica. Eleven team members (6 from FUMC-RM and 5 from Hatteras United Methodist) were the first team to begin the expansion of the church building in Rio Cuarto. Pastor Douglass and his wife Yahmi were our hosts. Douglass was the pastor in San Isidro when we first went there in the mid 90's. Their children were in Rio Cuarto to meet us. Douglass Jr. is now a M.D., Danny is an architect, and Daniella (who was born when we were in San Isidro) is now 20 and the lead singer in the church praise band. It was great to see them all!
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Registration
FUMC Kindergarten and Preschool registration for the 2020-2021 school year is underway. Preschool registration continues this month through Friday, February 7,
for currently enrolled preschoolers and FUMC family. Registration will open to the public
Monday, February 10.
FUMC Preschool and Kindergarten offers: Mother's Morning Out for babies (aged 2 months-1 year), Mother's Morning Out for toddlers/preschoolers
(aged 1-4 years), pre-school for 2- and 3-year-olds, pre-kindergarten for 4-year-olds, and a state-certified, half-day kindergarten. Please see Cheryl Stanton in the Preschool/K office for more information or call 977-0475.
FUMC is a happy place for children!!
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Food Bag Ministry
"I was hungry and you gave me something to eat." ~Matthew 25:35
We will be distributing food to those in need on Tuesday, February 11,
2-3 p.m. You can help by picking up a bag and filling it or by donating money. Please write "Food Bags" on your check, and the money will be used to purchase food. Thank you for helping those less fortunate.
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Methodist Home for Children
Sunday
February 16, 2020
Every child deserves a chance. Children come to us from empty homes, failing in school, looking for acceptance in all the wrong places. Often they are neglected, abused, and traumatized. We, however, see hope in each one of them. On Methodist Home for Children Sunday, your gifts will help vulnerable children and families reach their full, God-given potential. Please prayerfully consider supporting this special Sunday with your donations.
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Ellyn Dubberly Will Preach on February 23
Ellyn Dubberly, one of our missionaries who lives in Ahuachapan, El Salvador, and serves in the Christian education ministry with the Evangelical Methodist Church of El Salvador, will preach during our Sunday morning worship services on February 23.
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Ash Wednesday Worship Planned for February 26
A worship service of reflection, repentance and prayer is planned for Ash Wednesday, February 26, at 6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall. A corporate time of worship, including a guided meditation on a Lenten theme will begin the service.
Several creative, interactive stations will be offered to enhance the worship experience. The traditional imposition of ashes is when a pastor makes the sign of the cross with ashes on the forehead of participants while saying, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return," or "Repent and believe the Gospel." One station will facilitate releasing burdens to the Lord by placing a stone in a bowl of water. At another prayer station, worshippers will light a candle to signify a prayer being lifted up to the Lord.
A station for children will emphasize that we are created from dust and we will return to dust, and that God makes beauty from ashes. Children will utilize sand art to make something beautiful in the form of the cross.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, that ends on Holy Saturday - the day before Easter. Join us for this special worship experience.
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3 on 3 Basketball Tournament
Sunday, March 8
Rocky Mount Academy @ 2 p.m.
Participants must be 6th grade & up.
Teams can be co-ed, but the number of players is limited to 4 people per team.
The cost to enter a team is $75 per team!
Please sign up
at the info desk in The Hub.
Molly Ess and Darcy Tyndall will be there most Sunday mornings.
(This will serve as a youth fundraiser, and volunteers will be needed.)
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Celebrate Life Banquet
"A Night of Heroes"
February 27
Englewood Baptist Church
Doors Open at 6:30/Banquet 7-9 p.m.
Your Choice Pregnancy Resource Center invites you to their 30th Annual Celebrate Life Banquet. The cost is $20/person. Reservations will be confirmed upon receipt of monies received by
February 19. Make and mail check to: Your Choice Resource Center, 400 Sunset Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. (www.friendsofycrc.org)
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Volunteer Opportunities
Your Choice Pregnancy Resource Center is a Christian non-profit organization seeking to assist individuals facing the challenges of an unexpected pregnancy, to minister to the emotional and spiritual needs resulting from an abortion or miscarriage, and to promote sexual abstinence until marriage. The following are opportunities to volunteer:
Male/Female Client Advocate (Center OR Mobile Unit)
STD Screening Nurse
Learn 2 Earn Instructor
Baby Boutique Organizer
Baby Care/Parenting Instructor
Men's Ministry Fatherhood Instructor
Volunteers are required to complete volunteer basic training. Training dates are:
Monday, March 23 - 5:30-9 p.m.
Tuesday, March 24 - 5:30-9 p.m.
Thursday, March 26 - 5:30-9 p.m.
(All Sessions Required)
Training will be completed during assigned a.m., p.m., or Thursday evening shifts.
Dinner served at 5:30 p.m.; training starts promptly at 5:45 p.m.
Opportunities not requiring Basic Volunteer Training include: Special Projects Volunteer, Church Liaison, and Male Security Guard. For more information:
www.friendsofycrc.org
.
Please call Wendy at 252-446-2273 or email [email protected] for an application. Completed applications are requested before March 9, 2020. An application and interview is required prior to training.
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Camp Sunday - February 23
Camps Don Lee, near New Bern; Rockfish, southeast of Fayetteville; and Chestnut Ridge, west of Durham, offer many wonderful summer camps for children and youth and also have retreat centers for families. If you have any questions or would like to get a group together to attend one of these camps/retreats, please check out the links below:
Be on the lookout for brochures in The Hub!
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Inclement Weather Policy
FUMC will follow the Nash-Rocky Mount Public School System's policy. If school is closed, FUMC activities for that day will be cancelled. If there is a morning delay, the ministers will determine the cancellation of activities for that day. Additionally, the ministers will determine the cancellation of Sunday services. Safety is of the utmost importance. Announcements will be made via email, WRAL-TV and
wral.com.
Please note that we are listed as 1st UMC/Rocky Mount.
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Altar Flowers for 2020
If you are interested in placing flowers in the chapel, fellowship hall, or sanctuary on Sunday mornings during the new year, please call the church office to request a date.
The following dates are available: February 16 & 23; April 19; May 17 & 24; June 7 & 14; July 5; August 2; September 6 & 20; and December 27.
The cost of the arrangements are: chapel - $40; fellowship hall - $40; and sanctuary - $75. Rosebuds (to celebrate births) are $10.
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Military Prayer List
Please pray for protection and for clear direction on each mission for our military forces worldwide. Our thanks to the families who keep us updated (Velda Williford at 443-3005). This listing is maintained as a service of the Stephen Ministry.
U.S. Army: Captain Landon Shuff, Taji, Iraq;
2nd Lieutenant Brooks Parisher, Fort Hood, Texas; Master Sergeant Michael McCumbee, Special Forces, Fort Bragg, NC; Major Gene Pursifull, Headquarters Battalion, 82nd Airborne, Fort Bragg, NC.
U.S. Marines:
Lt. Col. Brian Davis, Commander-Marine Attack Squadron 542, Cherry Point, NC; Sergeant Andrew W. Sammons, Training Group, Fort Story at Little Creek, VA.
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Our Church Family
Memorials
In Memory of Lillian Robinson Boney (
Food Bags
)
by Cassandra G. Weatherford.
Sympathy
The pastors and staff of FUMC express their sympathy to Dave and Misty Schmitt and family on the passing of Dave's father,
Robert Henry Schmitt, of Wheeling, West Virginia on January 6; to Scott and Beth Joseph and family on the passing of
Michael Stephen "Mike" Shelton, their brother-in-law, on January 7 in Monroe, North Carolina; to Doug and Pam Starr and their family on the passing of Pam's aunt,
Virginia Grey Wright Gay,
January 15; and to Arthur "K" Bennett and Sarah Prezioso and their family on the passing of K's mother,
Lucille Lewis Bennett, on January 20.
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Attention Amazon Shoppers
Here's an easy way for your dollars to benefit First United Methodist Church and our ministries. When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price to our church.
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Give anytime, anywhere! We welcome your online donation, where you can schedule your recurring donation or your one-time gift. It's fast and easy.
Click here to get started or visit our website,
fumcrm.org .
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Live Worship Services Available
You may join in our services live at 9 a.m. each Sunday. Past worship services are also available via our You Tube channel. Be sure to "subscribe" to our channel to ensure you receive updated content.
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"To Know Christ and to Make Christ Known"
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