July 11, 2019
Your weekly news & updates
This week in worship
Pastor Todd McCullough will be preaching his first sermon this Sunday. Please come to support Todd and hear some of his story as he brings the message for this week. The text is Colossians 1:1-14. Also, as a reminder - I will be on vacation in Orlando with my family July 12th through July 21st. Pastor Todd will be serving as Pastor of the Week at Camp Tekoa (one of our United Methodist Camps in Hendersonville, NC) July 15th through July 20th. Rev. Roger Sailors will be on call for any pastoral concerns during this time. Please contact the church office with any needs.

Blessings,
Pastor Steve
Congregational News
Kaleidoscope VBS
VBS is here! Please return all donations to a children's area or the church office. 

There will be a leader meeting for elementary volunteers on July 14th at 1:00 p.m. in Harbortown.

It's not too late to get involved! Come find your place to celebrate that Jesus is the Light!. 

VBS shirts are here!! Please see Jennifer Ingalls Sunday, July 14th, between 8:00 a.m. and noon in the Pre-K Department to pick up your pre ordered shirts or to purchase one for $10.
Missed July birthday
Our most sincere apologies for missing Kay Reep's birthday last week in the July birthday list. Kay's birthday was on July 10th. Hope you had a happy and blessed day!
Belize Mission Trip
Please be in prayer for the team of 13 that leave this Saturday for Belize. They will be conducting VBS, replacing ceilings in the local school and putting the finishing touches on the medical center.  
Staff Updates
As we head into the summer, our staff team will look and operate a little different – we have a few new additions, as well as some expanded roles. It is with great joy that we share these exciting staff changes with you.
Sandra Askey, Director of Student Ministries
If people watching were an Olympic sport, I would win a gold medal. Seriously. I am fascinated by how people live, interact, and work. As a believer I am constantly in awe of how the Lord creates so many individual, unique souls with the capacity to change the world for good. I am amazed that two complete strangers with different backgrounds can meet, fall in love and create a family. 

I grew up in Belmont and attended Lenoir Rhyne University where I met my husband Alex and some life long friends. I graduated in 2013 with a BA in Psychology. My relationship with Jesus began when I was 15 years old, and I have been chasing after Him ever since.

I have been married for five years this August. In those five years we have moved 6 times, adopted two dogs, had a baby boy (Aiden), and grown so much together as life partners. My husband, Alex, is the ultimate encourager, socialite, and best friend that anyone could have, and I am so glad he is in my story.

My favorite Bible verse is 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 -  16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 

God is always working even when we cant see!

A few things that go straight to my heart...

~Animals, any kind, big and small.

~ Coffee because it's been two plus years since I’ve had a full night’s sleep. (kids, am I right?)

~ Clemson Football. We bleed orange in our family! 



I look forward to doing life with all of you! 
Sandra
Brittany Bethel, Director of Worship Arts
My name is Brittany Bethel and I am originally from Odessa, Texas and currently reside in Gastonia, North Carolina. I attended Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia and obtained my Bachelor of Arts in Music emphasis in operatic studies and musical theater and then attended Dallas Baptist University in Dallas, Texas and obtained my Master of Arts in Worship Theology. I am currently a Doctoral Candidate at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona for an EdD in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Christian Ministry.

I was a student pastor in Columbus, GA and in Odessa, TX for 10 years working primarily with Middle School students. For the past 7 years, I have worked at a non-profit called Carolina Cross Connection that connects youth ministries with mission projects all over North Carolina and Northwestern Honduras through weeklong mission experiences in either home repairs, homeless outreach, or orphanage care. The goal of our organization is connection between churches and communities for the sake of long-term transformation. I started as the Overseas Administrator and for the past two years have been the Executive Director.

I love music and using it to connect people to something bigger than themselves. I am also business and numbers minded so I enjoy spreadsheets and problem solving. I have a 2 year old shih tzu named Sully and he’s absolutely insane but I love him. The past year and a half here at Denver has been a great opportunity to understand the Lord better, and I look forward to expanding that even more.
LeAnn Callahan, Associate Director of Worship Arts
LeAnn Callahan has been playing the piano since she was 5 years old and singing since she could stand up in her crib. She began taking vocal lessons at the age of 12 and went on to pursue her passion in college with a Bachelor and a Masters degree in vocal performance. She has performed in musical theatre, opera, and as a solo performer. She is now the owner of Roland Music Academy, here in Denver, which is a private voice and piano studio. Besides music, LeAnn is the mother of 2 teenagers ages 13 and 16. She loves watching them play sports and dream big with her husband of 20 years. Her family has been members at DUMC since 2008. LeAnn is looking forward to sharing her love for music and how it connects her so intimately to God.
Pastor Todd McCullough, Associate Pastor
Hello Denver! I wanted to say hello and give you a little more information about myself.
 
I graduated from Pfeiffer in 2005 where I double majored in Youth Ministry and Christian Education with a minor in Religion. During my time at Pfeiffer, I developed my call into vocational ministry and continued my education at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University where I earned my Masters of Divinity in 2009.
 
I served in many different ministry settings over the course of my career and developed a passion for those who find themselves on the fringe of society. I am passionate about creating environments for all people to feel welcome and accepted and encouraging people to walk alongside each other. I love good music, good coffee, the South Carolina Gamecocks and talking about Jesus' love for the world.
 
Thank you for the wonderful reception this past Sunday, and I feel tremendously blessed to be one of the pastors here at Denver. Jackson, Käthe (Kay-da), Ellie and I look forward to being part of such a warm congregation and believe God will use us all for great things. Please introduce yourself sometime and feel free to invite me over for a visit to get to know you more.
 
See you Sunday!
Stewardship
Staff