Mid-Week Updates

Mid-Week Updates

April 14, 2021

From the Pastor - The Tomb

Is Empty

Because Jesus rose from the dead on Easter, the tomb is empty. That reality has profound implications for all of us. Pastor Jim Bell talks about a boy named Philip and his third-grade Sunday School class.

"Through the Bible in Twenty Minutes"

April 18, 2021

The theme of our worship service on Sunday, April 18, at 10 a.m. is the Bible. The sermon is titled Though the Bible in Twenty Minutes. The scripture lessons are Psalm 119:105-112 and

II Timothy 3:10-17. The Bible is the most important book in the history of the world, containing 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books. If you treasure the Bible, you will really appreciate this service! If you don’t know much about the Bible, you will learn a lot! Studying the Bible equips us to be effective and faithful followers of Christ. A copy of the Order of Worship for the can be found here.

We need to be vigilant. Nash County is now in the Yellow Category – significant community spread of COVID-19. If you do not feel safe in attending worship or if you are experiencing symptoms, please stay home and worship online.

Please make a reservation for worship through our new church app. You may download the app here. The reservation is in case we need to contact you if a worshiper later tests positive for COVID-19.

Please note: To get an accurate account of those planning to worship indoors

April 18, we will need for each person/youth/child to register individually.

You may register here, via our church app above or call the church office.

There are two entrances open at the rear of the sanctuary. To avoid congestion at the Sunset Avenue door, you are invited to utilize the ramp door under the steeple into the narthex (along Church Street). Parking is available in the gravel lot south of the church, adjacent to Bulluck Furniture Company.

The flowers on the Sanctuary altar this Sunday are given to the glory of God.

Watch via the church website: fumcrm.org

Our YouTube Channel

In-person Worship Has Returned

All of the protocols remain that were utilized in the fall. Our church is seeking to help keep people safe, to help stop the spread of the virus, and to help our health system from becoming overwhelmed. We seek to love our neighbors as ourselves.

The protocols include:

Face coverings are required.
Social distancing in the sanctuary. People will be seated in every other pew.
There will be vocal and instrumental music to enjoy. However, we will not sing together as a congregation.
You may give online or place your offering in the offering buckets at the rear of the sanctuary.
When you exit after the service, we will dismiss pews one at a time with ushers starting with the back rows, exiting to the wall aisles, not the center aisle.
Pews will be cleaned following every service.

For those who are not ready to attend worship in person, we understand. All worship services will be livestreamed at 10:00 a.m. on Sundays.

Horizon/William Whitehead Sunday School Class to Meet

The Horizons/William Whitehead Sunday School class will meet

at 8:45 a.m. in the annex on April 18.

Pastoral Changes Announced

Kim Deal, Chairperson of our Staff-Parish Relations Committee, announced in worship last Sunday that our church will receive a new Lead Pastor on June 29. Our new Lead Pastor will be Rev. David Joyner, currently serving as Pastor of Red Oak and Bethlehem United Methodist Churches.

Rev. Jim Bell will become the Lead Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Wilson. Rev. Matt Seaton will announce his pastoral appointment in worship this Sunday.

Update on General Conference and Related Issues Planned

Several opportunities are planned for members of our congregation to receive an update on General Conference and related issues. The update will include the delay in the General Conference because of COVID-19 and what has happened regarding the issues of the ordination of self-professed gay or lesbian persons and same-sex weddings during the past year. Information will be shared that will help participants learn the process that United Methodism will use to address these issues. A variety of formats will be utilized to enable the largest number of people to participate.

An in-person session will be held on Sunday, April 18, at 11:15 a.m. and one at 4:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. These sessions will be live-streamed also. A virtual session via Zoom is scheduled for Tuesday, April 27, at 6:30 p.m. (Registration is not necessary for the Zoom discussion, but it is helpful to have a count of intended participants.) There will be an opportunity for questions at each event.

Native American Ministries Sunday

April 18, 2021

A special offering will be received this Sunday, April 18, for Native American Ministries Sunday. This is one of six special Sunday offerings of the United Methodist Church. Your gifts help educate Native American seminarians, plant Native American churches, and cultivate Native American outreach. Please prayerfully consider supporting these ministries.

You may give online via our website, on our church App (see below) or mail your check made payable to FUMC with "Native American Ministries" on the memo line to:

FUMC

100 S. Church Street

Rocky Mount, NC 27804

Registration

FUMC Kindergarten and Preschool registration for the 2021-2022 school year is underway for currently enrolled preschoolers, FUMC family, and the public. 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 call Cheryl Stanton in the Preschool/K office for a registration form at 252-977-0475.

FUMC is a happy place for children!!

FUMC Preschool Auction

FUMC Preschool will have an online auction beginning Monday, May 19 through Friday, May 23. We are using 32auction.com as our site to bid. The monies used will help us to purchase new curriculums for our classes. We will go live Monday at 9:00, so get ready to start bidding on some great items.

North Carolina Litter Sweep

thru April 24, 2021

The 2021 Spring Litter Sweep is taking place thru April 24. Litter Sweep is the N.C. Department of Transportation’s statewide roadside litter removal initiative. Residents throughout the state participate in local efforts to help clean up North Carolina's roadways.

In addition to volunteers, NCDOT maintenance crews devote one week of their time to pick up litter and collect orange bags placed on the roadsides by volunteer pickups.

Volunteers are provided cleanup supplies, such as reversible orange/blue trash bags, gloves and orange safety vests, from their local NCDOT County Maintenance Yard office.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Nash County Management Coordinator, Melissa Harrison, at 252-640-6530.

Women's Spring Bible Study

"Elijah"

by Priscilla Shirer

It's not too late to join the Women's Spring Bible Study, "Elijah," by Priscilla Shirer, on Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-12 noon. During this 7-week study, this group will learn about the life of Elijah, how his obedience to God kept him anchored, sharpened his faith, broadened his impact and invited heaven's fire to fall. Additionally, they will learn how God is also working in their lives today to fashion a fiery, bold faith that will empower them to share the hope of Christ with their family, friends and community.

This will be a "hybrid" class - in person in the annex and via Zoom. This will allow those not yet comfortable meeting in person to take part in the class. Jena

Katkaveck will facilitate this study.

Women in Mission offers Scholarship

Women in Mission (WIM) is pleased to offer a scholarship opportunity for the 2021-2022 school year. This scholarship is part of the women's commitment to support youth and other students as they pursue undergraduate and graduate studies at select schools.

Applicants must be members of FUMC and must be enrolled in a degree program at an accredited Methodist college or university. Other criteria include academic performance and "faithfulness" to the church through "prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness." Traditional-aged and non-traditional-aged students may apply.

Complete information, including eligibility, instructions for application, and forms, is included in Guidelines for Women in Mission Scholarship Program. Packets are available for WIM by contacting Jena Katkaveck at 252-903-7598.

Applications must be submitted by 12 noon, Monday, May 3.

"Together We Rise"

May 2, 2021

4 - 6 p.m.

FUMC Parking Lot

When children enter foster care, they are usually given a trash bag to move their few belongings in. While children experience the foster care system, they often lose the simple joys of childhood like riding a bike or having a birthday party.

With the help of Together We Rise, Family Ministry is asking you to help us change the lives of local foster children. We're building bikes, packing Superhero and Birthday Boxes as well as decorating and packing "sweetcases" (duffle suitcases). There are jobs for Church family members of all ages to accomplish, so make plans to come out and join us!

“Public Bible Reading”

In Conjunction with the National Day of Prayer

We will be publicly reading the Bible on Wednesday, May 5, the day before the National Day of Prayer, May 6. This will be the fourth year FUMC has been a reading site, and we will set up near the portico. There will be many sites throughout Rocky Mount to cover reading the entire Bible. We will need volunteers to read for 30-minute segments from 6 a.m. until 5 p.m. or at least 22 readers. You can sign up online here. We encourage you to come to the church to read publicly. However, you have the option to read remotely, but it must be read out loud during your time slot. If you choose this option, please contact Frank Katkaveck either by a phone call or a text message (252-904-4829) when you finish. If you would like someone to sign you up, please contact Llewellyn Edmonson at the church office (252-977-0400); and she will assist you. Our reading starts with Amos 3:1 and goes through John 12:19. Please take this opportunity to participate in a very worthwhile time of Bible reading for this great community in which we live. If you have any questions, please contact Frank Katkaveck.

Local Missions moving forward during COVID Season

Monday Morning Community Breakfast: The Monday Morning Community Drive-thru/Walk-up Breakfast is now available from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m.

Backpack Buddies: We continue to deliver backpacks to Johnson School, Fairview and Swift Creek.

Please pray for leaders of local missions as they continue to find creative ways to meet the needs of Rocky Mount and the surrounding areas.

Weekday Morning Prayer

Join Pastor Matt for Morning Prayer! Monday through Friday at 7 a.m. Get your day started with 10 minutes of prayer and scripture readings with Pastor Matt. Morning Prayer has now moved 100% to podcast. Find it wherever you get your podcast. Or click here. You may listen to it on your phone or computer.

You may send prayer requests to Pastor Matt and the rest of the staff by emailing prayer@fumcrm.org.

Online Giving

Did you know that one-third of our congregation gives electronically? And the majority of those who give electronically have chosen to maximize their impact by setting up a recurring donation which automates their gift to give on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly schedule. We give thanks for your continued support and for sharing the love of Christ to others during this time of great need.

To set-up your recurring gift, or to give a one-time gift, visit our website at fumcrm.org/give; give via our church app (see below how to download); or by sending your check to:

First United Methodist Church

100 S. Church Street

Rocky Mount, NC 27804