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First UMC Update
April 3, 2020
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From the Pastor - Be Kind to Yourself
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| Be Kind to Yourself - April 3 |
In this week's video update, Pastor Jim Bell tells why it is important to be kind to yourself during these days of stress because of the coronavirus.
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Palm Sunday Worship - "The Man with the Donkey"
The theme of our remote worship service on Palm Sunday, April 5, is "The Man with the Donkey." The scripture lessons are Psalm 118:14-29 and Matthew 21:1-11. In the sermon, we will reflect on the man who provided the donkey on which Jesus rode into Jerusalem. When Jesus is king of our lives, we will serve him with whatever we have.
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Holy Week Worship
A reflective remote worship experience focusing on the themes of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday will be available beginning Thursday, April 9. This 30-minute service will feature scripture readings from Matthew's gospel and music. Participants will remember and experience the Last Supper, Jesus' betrayal by Judas, Peter's denial of the Lord, Jesus' trial before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, Jesus' suffering on the Cross and his crucifixion.
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Morning Prayer
This week we began a weekday morning prayer service. You may find it on our YouTube channel. Simply search for First United Methodist Church Rocky Mount. Be sure to subscribe to the channel so that you will stay up to date on the latest videos. So join Pastor Matt and begin your day with scripture, prayer, and song! You may send prayer requests to him and the rest of the staff by emailing
prayer@fumcrm.org
.
Click here for the Morning Prayer for Friday, April 3.
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Why Your Gift Is Still Needed
We are greatly encouraged by the outpouring of love we have seen by those who continue to put God first with their prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. Even though the body of Christ is not meeting within the walls of First UMC, we are still challenged as The Body of Christ to go forth and make disciples and share His love with others. This has not changed for us, at First UMC.
You continue to share his love by providing meals for those who are not in school through the Backpack Buddy Ministry; providing an alternative breakfast for our Monday Morning Community Breakfast participants; and continuing to support our community partners like Peacemakers, Your Choice Resource Center, NC Wesleyan College, and The Reach Center during these challenging times.
The best way to ensure your gift continues to allow these ministries and many others of FUMC to care for the immediate needs within our community and also prepare and plan for future needs, even after the end of the COVID-19 crisis, is to give online.
We appreciate those of you who are currently taking advantage of our new giving platform, found on our new website,
fumcrm.org/give
.
This platform was launched in March with great response.
Many of you have chosen to maximize your impact and set up a recurring donation which would automate your gift on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly schedule. We give thanks for your continued giving and for sharing the love of Christ to others during this time of great need.
Give online now at fumcrm.org/give or by check mail to:
First United Methodist Church
100 S. Church Street
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
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Thank You for Your Support to NC Wesleyan Students
Dear Churches, Pastors & Community Members,
I cannot express to you enough the love and thanks that fills my heart as I write this letter! It overjoys me to see the local churches coming together and being the Church for our students. From donating food items, giving money, to purchasing supplies, you have all shown our Wesleyan community the love of Christ in a BIG way over the past two weeks. I want to personally thank each and every person who gave something to support our Care Packages for students. Because of your generosity, over 150 students remaining on campus received care packages containing dorm room food last Friday, and hygiene care packages this Friday. Students told me over and over how thankful they were and how much these packages would help support them over the next few weeks to months. We thank you all and send much love!
Grace & Peace,
Mikah Brondyke
Director, Church Relations
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CDC & NCDHHS Recommendations
- Wash your hands often and thoroughly. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Disinfect surfaces in your home.
- Avoid touching your face, and cough into your sleeve or a tissue.
- Avoid close contact with those who are sick.
- Stay home if you are not feeling well.
- Practice social distancing (at least six feet) from friends and others.
- Individuals who believe they have COVID-19 symptoms (cough, fever over 100.4 degrees, and/or shortness of breath) and/or have been in close contact with a COVID-positive person should self-isolate and call their healthcare provider, the Nash County Health Dept hotline - (252)462-2079, or the NC 24/7 hotline - 1-866-462-3821 - where they will receive guidance on next steps, which may include testing or self-monitoring.
- A statewide Stay at Home Order, went into effect on March 30. The order directs people to stay at home except to visit essential businesses, to exercise outdoors or to help a family member or friend. The order also bans gatherings of more than 10 people and directs everyone to stay at least six feet apart from others.
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Our Church Family
Prayer Concerns
Please lift up in prayer:
- Joe and Cheryl Stanton - Joe is recovering from a liver transplant at Duke.
- Steve Boykin, Judy Jones' grandson, recovering at home from surgery at Rex Hospital
- Steve Pernell, health issues
- Gaye Mann, who is currently at The Lodge
- Barbara Drake & Family, on the passing of her sister, Mary Frances Taylor
- All Hospital/Medical Personnel and First Responders
Memorials
In Memory of Lillian Robinson Boney
(Food Bag Ministry).
In Memory of Beverly Jean Talbert Boudreau
(Youth BigStuf Scholarship) by Tax & Risk Management Department, Boddie-Noell Enterprises, Pat Cyrus-Karr.
In Memory of Ruby Merle Brantley Braswell
by FUMC William Whitehead Sunday School Class.
In Memory of Carolyn Dickson Johnson
by Carl Johnson.
In Memory of Christine "Teeny" Vick Joyner
by Butch & Kay Thompson; Tempie Fuller, Jane Reynolds & Linda Warren; Gail B. Horner; FUMC William Whitehead Sunday School Class; Jerome & Barbara Taylor; Kim & Jo Teachey; Milton & Lea Fields; Nathan & Jo Ann Weavil; Henry & Lucy Hinson; Mr. & Mrs. Carl W. Joyner; and (Backpack Buddies) by Dee Chick.
Celebrations
Congratulations to
Tyler (Village Church: Rolesville) and Lauren Williams in the birth of their third child, Joel Alexander, on Saturday, March 21. Big brothers are Gabriel and Ellis.
Sympathy
The pastors and staff of FUMC express their sympathy to Barbara Drake and her family on the passing of her sister, Mary Frances Taylor, March 24.
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"To Know Christ and to Make Christ Known"
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