Hello First Methodist,

“Take up your cross." Join us on the journey from death in sin to life in Christ. We begin The Pilgrim's Progress sermon series on Sunday and the Lenten Lunches on Tuesday of this week. Pastor Powell will begin the Chosen Season 2 study on Tuesday at 1:30.

Kids and Youth are on campus this Sunday Night from 5:00 - 6:30 PM. VBS registration is OPEN! See below.

The Waverunners have planned another trip! This time they are traveling to Edenton. Register on the website/app or the church office by March 6th.

Continue to pray for Pastor Sarah and the pilgrims on their spiritual journey in the Holy Land.

Follow me,

First Methodist Morehead City

The Pilgrim's Progress

The season of Lent draws us into great self-reflection about our sin and need for forgiveness as we journey toward the cross and resurrection. John Bunyan wrote a classic in 1678 entitled The Pilgrim’s Progress, an allegory of the journey each person makes from death in sin to life in Christ. When Jesus said, “Follow Me,” it was not to an easy journey for he added “Take Up your Cross.” The Pilgrim’s journey opens our eyes to the challenges and temptations we too will face as we move forward in faith. The Good News is the promise of God welcoming all in Jesus into his Celestial City, the new creation.

Lenten Lunches

Lenten Lunches will begin on Tuesday, February 28th @ 12:10 in The Sanctuary followed by lunches in the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome to attend and no reservations are needed.

2/28 Rev. Vera Price, Pastor of St James AME Zion, Vandemere

3/7 Rev. Lee Pittard, Pastor of Harker’s Island Methodist Church

3/14 Rev. Connie Stutts, Pastor of Rhems & Beech Grove Methodist Churches, New Bern

3/21 Rev. Dr. Bill Snow, St. Stephens AME Zion Church

3/28 Rev. Donald Thomas, Pastor of Franklin Memorial & Salter Path Methodist

4/4 Rev. Tim Nichols, Pastor of Bethlehem Methodist Church, Bogue

Ash Wednesday Services

Have mercy on us, Lord. We confess to you, Lord. Accept our repentance, Lord. By the cross and passion of your Son our Lord, bring us with all your saints to the joy of his resurrection. Amen.

The Chosen Study Group

Tuesdays at 1:30

Many of you by now are familiar with The Chosen. Perhaps you’ve downloaded the free app so you could watch the first two seasons. Maybe you’ve seen it on a streaming channel. The Chosen is being crowd-funded (donations) so that it can be offered free to the world! Many of us believe this is one of the best presentations of Jesus in our lifetimes! Some of you have already participated in a group study of season one or two. Starting on Tuesdays during Lent, Pastor Powell will again offer an 8-week small group focused on Season Two. The session will be offered on Tuesdays after the Lenten Lunches at 1:30 PM in the Large Conference Room. Each one-hour session will include viewing a number of clips and discussing the biblical story as well as the impact of Jesus on our lives. It’s usually helpful to view the episode before group time – and sometimes afterward! Let Powell know you’re coming by using the link below.

Pledge Cards

Your pledge is an expression of your faith and participation in the ministry of First Methodist Church. Pledging allows the Finance Committee to forecast and manage expenses. We have mailed pledge cards for you to prayerfully consider making a 2023 pledge to the Mission and Ministry Budget and the Capital Budget. Our budgets and our annual audits are always available to the congregation at the front office desk. You may mail your card back, drop it in the offering plate on Sunday morning, or respond electronically – use the QR code on the pledge card or go online through the website or app under GIVING (or by using the link below) - Thank you!

Immediate Opening

We are Hiring...

Director of Finance (bookkeeper/accounting)

Flexible schedule to include 20-25 hours per week.

Call Pastor Powell if interested.

Handbells

Phil Routszong, our Director of Music, invites you to a Handbell interest meeting on March 5th at 4:00 PM in the Sanctuary. All are welcome!

New Members and Baptism

During the month of February, we welcomed new members and celebrated a baptism. Please extend a warm welcome to Bill Blair, Deborah Van Dyken, Alan & Becky Blankenship, and Sila Marie Rose. We are truly thankful for those who serve Christ here at First Methodist.

Tour of Edenton

Thursday, March 16th

Waverunners are traveling to Edenton, NC. Edenton is an exciting, vibrant, and endlessly interesting place to visit. We will eat lunch once we arrive and then experience a leisurely tour of Edenton and learn about its 300-year history, aboard the Edenton Trolley Tour. The guided tour is one of many fun things to do in Edenton, showcasing notable sites throughout the Downtown Historic District and into the Edenton Cotton Mill Village. We will leave the church by van at 8:30 AM from the Bridges Street Parking Lot. RSVP by March 6th and pay for your $10 Trolley Ticket. This trip is limited to 18 people. Sign up online or at the church office.

A new ministry opportunity as we share 

our loving care with our church family!

We have a growing number of families in which a loved one needs 24-hour care. Hands at Home is designed to allow the caregiver, usually, a spouse or close relative, the opportunity to run errands, come to Bible Study, or need some self-care time! We want to match church members in groups of 2 with families in need. We already have a few of these groups going and it has been a great success for everyone; caregiver, patient, and volunteer! If you are willing to join in and volunteer for a 2-hour shift with Hands at Home or if you have a need for a volunteer with Hands at Home please contact the church office.

Becky Lail, Lynn Miller, or Pastor Patrick will be in contact with you!

Intentional Parenting Book Study

Join Pastor Sarah for a 5-week study beginning on March 6th and ending on April 3rd. We will meet via Zoom at 8:00 pm on Monday nights. Please feel free to RSVP below or on our website/app. The cost of the book is $10.

MANY HANDS FOR CHRIST

We are looking for adult volunteers for Project MHC the week of June 11-15. You can serve as a project leader, small group leader or helper, shower host, prayer partner, small group transportation driver, meal deliverer, or overnight chaperone. If you are thinking that this might be for you, please reach out to Pastor Sarah. Registration for Youth COMING IN FEBRUARY!

Registration is OPEN!

August 7-11th. Launch kids on a cosmic quest where they’ll have a blast shining Jesus’ light to the world. Stellar rockets kids on an out-of-this-world adventure that’s light years of faith-building fun. Registration is now open!

It's not too late to register for the Casting Crowns concert!

February Youth and Kids

Sunday Nights Schedule



Feb 26 - Regular Programming

Kids Ministry Sunday School

and Sunday Nights

Our children's director, Shanna has made volunteering a breeze so if you are on the fence about signing up to help now is the time! We could really use your help and you will be making a huge difference in the lives of these children.

VBS and PMHC Registration

coming this month!

ELC is HIRING!

Our Early Learning Center is hiring Teachers and Teacher Assistants. Positions available for part-time and full-time hours. Please contact Chervon Evans-Morris at 726-0651 or elc@firstmethodist.life.

Thank you!!!!

Habitat for Humanity Lunches

Thank you to those of you who have signed up! We still have June, July, September, October, November, and December. We provide lunches for Habitat for Humanity volunteers. First Methodist delivers lunch on the 3rd Thursday of the month. The coordinator will contact you the week of to provide the number requested (typically 8-12). Lunches include a sandwich, chip, fruit or cookie, and water or Gatorade.

Ekklesia is a Section 8 low-cost housing community of elderly residents supported by First Methodist Church and three other local churches. There is a continual need for certain items and a box has been placed in the atrium for donations. Items needed include household cleaners, toilet tissue, Kleenex, laundry detergents, dryer sheets, shampoo, deodorants hand cream, and hand sanitizer. All items collected will be delivered to Ekklesia on a weekly basis. Thank you for your support of this effort.

THANK YOU

Dear First Methodist Church Members,

We would like to thank you for supporting our annual event to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We very much appreciate your generous donation!

Sincerely,

The Dr. MLK Birthday Celebration Committee

Week of Feb 23 - Feb 29

23 Doug Willis

23 Gene Ebron

23 Kate Eure 

23 Rustyn Gambardella

24 Buddy Davis

24 Rebecca Hedgecock

24 Jack Spencer

25 Greta Boshamer

25 Terry Robertson

25 Robert Hickman 

25 Donna Bashford

25 Amelia Capehart

25 John Gann

25 Thomas Spencer

25 Ruth Varner

25 Ford Jenkins

26 James Trammell

26 Deborah Lawrence 

26 Brian Nowell

26 Webb Gay

26 Marsh Spencer 

27 Grace Mason

27 Alan Leary

27 Catherine Baker

27 Mary Cheatham King

27 Casey Carter 

28 Gordon Thayer

28 Christy Lewis

28 Nicole Leary

28 Emerson Lewis

29 Nicki Newman

29 Michelle Cooper

Please let us know if we do not have your birthday in our system. We don't want to miss anyone!