Thoughts from Pastor Angelo... |
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Dear Church Family,
It feels like Christmas was just yesterday and yet here we are getting ready to begin the season of Lent. Lent is a time in the church where we prepare our hearts for Easter by taking a season to consider our own sin and our need for repentance, grace, and redemption.
One of the ways people practice lent is by committing to give something up for a season, with the hope that when they think about the thing they’ve given up they will take time to pray and draw closer to God. Maybe you’ve done this before with a certain type of food, I know one year where I was driving a lot I decided to give up the radio and spend my morning and afternoon commute in silence or prayer.
Practices like these also help us draw closer to the Lord. Which is the whole point in giving something up in the first place. We give something up so we can make more room for God.
This year, as you potentially take time to consider what you might set aside during lent, let me also ask how is what you’re setting aside creating more room for you to nurture your faith? How will you be intentional with this time?
I’m excited to share that, beginning on Ash Wednesday, I will be bringing back a practice we started last Lent called the Lenten Lectio. Lectio Divina is a practice of reading scripture designed to help you reflect deeply on just a few verses each day. The Lenten Lectio will be release every morning during the season of Lent and offer us time to pray, read scripture, and draw closer to the Lord together. I hope you will consider joining me in this. You will be able to find it on our podcast, website, and church app.
Please be sure to read this newsletter in its entirety, as it will catch you up on all the amazing things going on here at Wrightsboro UMC!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Angelo
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Greeting Church Family from the Finance Committee!
I would like to thank you, the church body, for your faithfulness and generosity
toward Wrightsboro. Without your support we would not be able to operate at the
capacity in which we do, such as our wonderful worship services, the many missions and
outreach projects we support, as well as the general monthly expenses of the church. Let us be faithful to God that we may in turn be a blessing to others in His name.
As always, financial information is available in the church office or by request.
For the month of January 2023:
Total funds taken in: $27,230.35
Total funds spent paying bills: $23,331.40
Surplus for end of month $3,898.95
Our current mortgage payout is $319,600.51
Apportionments are paid at this time.
Thank you again for your faithfulness in supporting Wrightsboro as we strive to be the
hands and feet of Christ.
Leigh Parker
Finance Chair
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MISSIONS AND OUTREACH
MISSIONS
The missions committee continues to furnish nutritious meals to the shut ins in our community the first Saturday of each month. There are approximately 40 people benefitting from this ministry. If you feel drawn to helping senior citizens and disabled members of the Wrightsboro community there is always a place for volunteers.
HAND IN HAND
The Hand in Hand and back pack ministries to Wrightsboro Elementary School are active in providing services to our teachers and children. Thanks to our wonderful volunteers children, who might not be getting enough food at home, are furnished healthy snacks and our teachers are provided moral-boosting gifts on a regular basis.
FREE YARD SALE
The free yard sale is back in business on Wed. mornings furnishing clothes, home goods, etc. to anyone in need. As always volunteers are welcome.
FOOD PANTRY
The food pantry continues their ministry of feeding hungry people. If you want to be uplifted drop in and witness these dedicated, hard working folks who run the pantry. And consider donating some time to helping out.
LIBERIA
For many years we have supported the Ganta Station in Liberia; adopting children to go to school, furnishing clothes and other necessities. In February we were blessed to be able to send four boxes of flip flop shoes that were donated through the food pantry and free yard sale. A box for girls, one for boys and one each for women and men. Through a joint effort from the Adult Sunday School class, Methodist women and the missions committee, 60 new sheets are being sent to the MERCI Warehouse to be shipped to the hospital in Liberia.
METHODIST HALFWAY HOUSE
Last, but not least, the Methodist Home halfway house will be getting a Valentine pizza party from the WUMC missions. The halfway house provides a loving home environment for up to eight teenagers who otherwise might not have a home.
The missions committee appreciates the support from you the congregation of WUMC. Because of your support we are able to reach out and provide help in our community, out state and around the world.
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YOUTH GROUP
The Youth will begin meeting on Wednesdays at 5:30pm in the Education Building. Youth in 6th grade through 12th grade are invited to attend. If you have any questions, email Pastor Angelo at angelo@wrightsboroumc.org and we will set up a time to chat!
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WRIGHTSBORO UNITED WOMEN IN FAITH
The WUMW meets on the third Thursday of the month. Our next meeting will be Thursday March 16 at 10am in the Wrightsboro UMC Fellowship Hall.
A big thank you to all who participated (helped chop vegetables and cook, bought ingredients and/or soup, made monetary contributions, made labels, etc.) in our soup sale. While I don't have the exact amount after expenses, I think we made over $800.00. These monies will help us with our mission to support women and children at home and around the world. Actually we have already allocated funds to purchase hospital sheets for the Ganta United Methodist Hospital Mission in Liberia. The Adult Sunday School class and Missions and Outreach are also contributing to this project.
The United Methodist Women are spearheading an effort to provide the Wrightsboro
Elementary School Staff with baked goods on Tuesday March 28 which is a required teacher work day. If you enjoy baking, please consider making something to contribute. Food items can be brought to the church on Sunday March 26. A reminder will be sent closer to the date of the event.
We are in the process of updating the UMW bulletin board. The poster currently there will be replaced with a smaller poster surrounded by pictures demonstrating how women serve
Wrightsboro UMC. If you have any pictures of women serving the church (food pantry, choir, UMW, mission events, children's ministry, youth ministry, free yard sale, Crafty Friday, etc.) please send them to Eva Czepiel.
For questions and further information contact Eva Czepiel lefty1210@atmc.net
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UNITED METHODIST MEN
The WUM Men will be having a Boston Butt Sale on Saturday, March 4th. Pick up will be between 3:00-4:30pm. Only pre-orders will be taken. Cost will be $40. To preorder, order forms are in the lobby or you can sign up in EVENTS on the app. The proceeds of this fundraiser will be used for mission projects.
The UM Men will be meeting on Sunday, March 12th at 8:00am in the Fellowship Hall. Everyone is invited to join them for breakfast.
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CRAFTY FRIDAY
Crafty Friday meets Fridays at 9:30AM. We do a variety of projects throughout the year.
Our most recent project was S’mores Kits with the wording “We need S’more Teachers
Like You” for Wrightsboro Elementary School Staff. We are considering several ideas for
Easter which entails making an Easter basket with yarn, jute or paper. Please Join us!
You don’t have to be crafty and you can bring your own project as it is as much about
the fellowship as it is about the project.
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A word about our “lending “ Library….
A couple of exciting things happening in the Book Corner, inside the Welcome Center!
First we now have a children's Lending Library. The shelves are quite full with a variety of books to choose from.
Secondly, there are a few new titles on the top two shelves of the adult library. Here's a few of the titles.
Forgotten Road.....Richard Paul Evans
New Guidepost Series.. First Book....Sleepy Hollow N Y
Sadies Montana ..... 3 book series
Debbie Macomber ....3 new books
MacDonald Family Trilogy ..... *already checked out!
As always we are on the honor system. Take any book or series you like and when finished return to the shelf, or if shelves are full, place on the back counter. Happy reading everyone!
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CHURCH HISTORY
There is a special recipe book in our library titled Keep Your Fork. The title of the book comes from a sermon preached by Rev. Lynn Wall titled Keep Your Fork, The Best Is Yet To Come. The sermon is available on DVD and can be requested from the church office.
The Faith Circle of Wrightsboro UMC created the receipt book for the proceeds to go toward missions. One of the great things about our church is that the we can cook and that cooking is used towards missions and the many opportunities to gather for fellowship.
Here is an example of some great receipts from our church member that are in the book.
Chocolate Nut Pie
1 stick margarine, melted
4 T. cocoa
2 c. sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
1 c. nuts
1 lg. can milk
2 pie shells, unbaked
Preheat oven to 400°. Put pie shells in oven a few minutes to dry them out; sprinkle a little 10 X sugar in the crust first to make them stay firm. Combine the cocoa and sugar and add the rest of the ingredients, mix well and pour in unbaked pie shells. Bake for 10 minutes - then turn down to 325° and bake 20 or 25 minutes more or until done.
Laura Jones
The library also includes books by Charles Swindoll, Max Lucado, Lehaye/Jenkins Left Behind series, Billy Graham, Beverly Lewis, Karen Kingsbury and Terri Blackstock. Study books and commentaries concerning a multitude of subjects are also available.
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Prayer Chain
Have a prayer concern?
Who do you contact?
Email the church office and we will email it out to the Prayer Chain. Note that the Prayer Chain is a different list from those receiving this Newsletter. If you would like to be on the Prayer Chain email list, contact the church office. Just remember that you are committing to pray for the members of our church and their family and friends.
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APP & Website
Wrightsboro UMC has an APP! it can be found in the app store of our phone or tablet. We also have a new website.
www.wrightsboroumc.org
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Like us on FACEBOOK
or
Follow us on INSTAGRAM
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March Birthdays & Anniversaries
1 Brian Kivett
4 Jean Brinson
7 Lily Crowder
7 Tom Carver
8 Andy Timmons
15 Luke Nguyen
19 Brian Rubright
21 Jill Hawk
21 Charles Harrell
22 Charlotte Jarvis
23 Mike Stephenson
26 Karen Hamm
27 Nathan Herring
28 Joseph Steagall
30 Brad Jordan
26 Brad & Cindy Shoaf
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The 2023 Flower Chart, found on bulletin board in hallway, is now available. If you would like to have an arrangement grace our altar area in honor or memory of someone just go and sign up on the chart. You can also contact Suzanne at 762-2583. The cost is $54.00.
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