Mid-Week Updates
May 5, 2021
From the Pastor - Bean Plant, Marigold and Lily    

Three sisters lived on the edge of a forest. Their names were Bean Plant, Marigold and Lily. Pastor Jim Bell talks about how one creative writer expresses the victory of Jesus’ resurrection and what it means. 
"Beloved by God"
May 9, 2021

The theme of our worship service on May 9, at 10:00 a.m. is Beloved by God. The scripture lessons are Deuteronomy 32:10-12 and I John 5:1-6. 
Discovering our true identity as beloved children of God empowers us to take risks as we grow in love with God and neighbor. We will celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion. A copy of the Order of Worship for the can be found here.
      
We need to be vigilant. Nash County is now in the Orange Category, substantial 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
May 9, 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. 

Please note: Due to safety precautions and COVID restrictions, we continue to place a capacity limit of 125 in the sanctuary for in-person worship. After we reach our maximum allowance, you will be placed on a waiting list and contacted if space becomes available. As always, you are welcome to join us for worship via livestream each Sunday. 
 
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 and in honor and memory of our mothers and special women in our lives. 
(Mother’s Day Brochures will be available in the baskets
at the entrances to the sanctuary.)
 

Watch via the church website:  fumcrm.org
or
 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 May 9.
Sign up here or call the church office at 252-977-0400 to register.
SPRC News

We are pleased to report that Bill Wood has accepted the permanent position of part-time organist offered to him from the Staff Parish Relations Committee, Organist Search Committee and Pastor Jim Bell.

Bill is such a strong asset to our church’s ministry with his musical gifts, vast knowledge and experience, and commitment to collaborative ministry as a team. Please join us in celebrating this joint decision and welcoming Bill back!
Introduction to Lay Ministry:
The BASIC Course
Saturday, May 15, 2021
8:30 a.m. - 4:30/5:00 p.m.
via Zoom

Ken Ripley, Heritage District Lay Servant Ministry Director, will facilitate this course. The registration fee is $15.00, and registration is open until Sunday,
May 9, at 11 p.m.

Click here for more information and to register.
Peacemakers Snack Drive

During the month of May, FUMC will host a snack drive for Peacemakers of Rocky Mount. We will help them meet their goal of collecting over 6500 individual snacks to serve the children during their Freedom School this summer. You can place your contribution of individually wrapped "finger food" snacks in the collection box in the back of the sanctuary or drop them off in the welcome center.
UM Retirement Homes, Inc.
Mother's Day Offering
 
Since 1955, the Mother's Day Offering has been a sanctioned offering for United Methodist Churches in the North Carolina Conference. Funds raised support residents in The United Methodist Retirement Homes communities: Croasdaile Village in Durham, Cypress Glen in Greenville, and Wesley Pines in Lumberton. 
These residents typically have outlived their resources, have no other means of support and often no family. This offering supports their care and provides a continued quality of life for them.
 
The Mother's Day offering gives us an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of these residents. It takes $100 to subsidize one day of care for benevolent residents. Residents who benefit from these funds are still living independently and are not yet eligible for any government support. Please carefully consider supporting this Benevolent Care with the Mother's Day Offering on Sunday,
May 9. Click here to read more.

You may give online via our website, on our church App (see below) or mail your check made payable to FUMC with "UM Mother's Day Offering" on the memo line to:
FUMC
100 S. Church Street
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Your Choice Resource Center
Baby Bottle Blessings
 
Help fund the life-saving, life-changing ministry of the Your Choice Resource Center with a check, cash or silver. You may collect your money at home and then deposit your monetary donation in the Big Baby Bottles available, one at each entrance to the sanctuary, on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 9, through Father's Day, Sunday, June 20!
 
What a special way to say Happy Mother's & Father's Day!
Attention 2021 Graduates!
Graduation Sunday - May 23
 
As a church family, we want to praise and acknowledge your educational accomplishments 
and encourage you into your next stage of life.  
We hope to celebrate students graduating from high school, college, and graduate studies. 
 
If you are getting ready to don a cap and gown and receive a diploma, let us know. Please email by May 14 graduates' full names, parents' names, schools graduating from, schools planning to attend or career paths entering, and a small photo to Wendi Beck at wbeck@fumcrm.org. A booklet will be created to share with our church family on Graduate Sunday, May 23, so we may continue lifting you up in prayer and love! 
Ushers Needed at Funeral Services

The church needs men and women to be available to help usher at funeral services in the church. This volunteer opportunity assists church families and others attending services and presents the caring aspect of the church to the community. Please call the church office at 977-0400 or John Williford at 442-3115 or 443-3005.
Kids Ministry Update

What a year it has been for the KidMin portion of Family Ministries! We have walked through many highs and lows within our group but are thankful to have had each other to do it with well. 

KidMin learned this year that we can do hard—together! We found our way through Covid by adapting to wearing masks while we meet and spacing ourselves our physically. We had to say goodbye to two of our own when it was time for them to move so abruptly. We walked through the valley of the shadows of death when a dad within our mix passed away so unexpectedly, and we moved spaces mid-year to offer a better way for everyone within our church to try meeting at the same time again. We took on the challenge of memorizing scripture and Books of the Bible too!
 
We got to celebrate big joys together this year, too! We have welcomed new friends to the mix and are finding we average more like 25-30 kids on a Sunday afternoon. We’ve celebrated the first member to our 66 Book Club when he could recite Genesis through Revelation, and we had our first ever Bake Off! We’ve been busy loving our neighbors, too, through Peacemakers Toy Shop, mailing Valentine’s Day cards to grown-up friends, and joining forces for Together We Rise.  
 
We’re excited about our summer together as we keep investing in our group and our community through ways of praying, playing, and serving together. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram to keep up with us! 

Click here for additional activities!
Youth Ministry Update

It is always such a joy to be a part of student ministry at FUMC! We have an array of students that are unique in their very own way; and as they come together, we see so many versions of Jesus’ personality! And for that, we are thankful! 
           
With the many COVID-19 restrictions, this past year has been a tough one. However, with the help of an awesome leader team and a great amount of determination, we have still witnessed God shining through! From nights in the fellowship hall studying God’s Word and meeting injustices of the world head on, to amping it up in a competitive 9-square game, to serving community partners like “The Mills Church, Larema Coffee House, Christian Adoption Services” and others, we have been intentional in our study, relationships, service, fun, and commitment to God. 
           
We decided long ago as many changes were taking place in our church and world that we could approach this year one of two ways, accept it and keep moving forward or fall victim to it and wait for it to pass. We chose the former and God has remained faithful. 
           
Our plan moving forward this summer is to participate in Gatekeepers Work Camp, take a trip to Florida for BigStuf Camp, and ride a plane to Costa Rica for a great mission opportunity! We will also do an assortment of fun activities and mission opportunities throughout the summer to continue strengthening our relationship with God and one another and have lots of fun doing it! 
 
Keep praying for us that God would continue to light the way as the followers of Jesus he wants us to be! 
Morning Prayer 
 
Friends,

Morning Prayer was a ministry begun during lock-down. As our community now slowly returns to normal, having now a vaccine, and a better understanding of
how to safely operate in the world of the pandemic, I have brought the ministry of Morning Prayer to a close. For all those who joined me along the way, I am grateful for you. The resources I used for morning prayer are still available and ready for you to use, apart from my leadership. I give thanks to God for the opportunity to lead in this way during the lock down and continue to pray for us as we return to a new normal. 

Peace, 
Pastor Matt Seaton

Order of Worship and Daily Lectionary are two resources for Morning Prayer.
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!!
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.  
Honor Thy Father
Exodus 20:12
 
The Local Mission Ministry team is offering you the opportunity to honor your father and/or person who has had a special influence upon your life by making a minimum $10/name contribution in their honor or memory. All proceeds will benefit the local missions of our church and community. 
Persons named will be recognized within a special brochure, and a floral tribute in honor and memory of those named will be placed in the sanctuary on Father's Day. The option of having a card sent to the honoree will also be offered to you. 
Please place you orders here for Father's Day.
 
Deadline:
Father's Day: Monday, June 14
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
CDC & NCDHHS Recommendations

For essential practices you can do to reduce the impact of COVID-19, click on the links below: 

Our Church Family
  
Celebrations
 
We welcome our 2021 Confirmands:
Emory Benjamin Bridges, Everett Ruth Bridges, Chase Luke Carter, Brilee Taylor Deal, Caroline Mae Epps,Katherine Meredith Geanes, Mitchell Kern Hinson, Ethan Jackson Kim, Grace Caroline Oxendine, and Ayden Lane Tyndall.

Congratulations to Will and Erin Kornegay on the birth of their daughter, 
Dawson Grace Kornegay, April 30, 2021. She weighed 6 lbs. 8 ounces and was
20 inches long. Proud grandfather is Widgie Kornegay.


Prayer Concerns
 
Please lift up in prayer:
  • Bob Allen
  • Stephanie Ronan
  • Grace Sumner
  • Shirley DeBruhl
  • Beverly Rackley
  • Bob Steele
  • Jim Patton
  • Janet Keyes
  • Barbara Taylor
  • Steve and Sandy Pernell
  • All Hospital/Medical Personnel and First Responders
FUMC APP

Text "fumcrmapp" to 1-888-364-4483 or go to get.theapp.co/5jbt.
Contact Info

First United Methodist Church
252-977-0400 Office
252-977-0475 Preschool
252-977-1748 Fax