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The DEC-JAN 2017-18 Newsletter for First UMC Family and Friends
First United Methodist Messenger Rockingham, NC
Sisters and Brothers in Christ: Greetings in the Name of Jesus Christ: The One Who Is, the One Who Was, and the One Who is to Come! Scandal seems to be the currency of our time! Who got caught doing what? With whom? Where? Really? No way! Is this fake news? And this was the case three decades ago when I was introduced to the phrase “The Scandal of Particularity”. My the-ology professor introduced me to the person involved in one of the biggest scandals in history. His name? Jesus!
The jist of the scandal? God chose to change the world forever by taking on human flesh in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Can you imagine that God looked out on the world two-thousand years ago where the Western world was dominated by the Roman Empire and thought to himself, “what is the more obscure place in this empire?” God’s answer was Nazareth, a village of 200-300 people in the northern hill country of the backwater province of Judea. No one in the Roman Empire wanted to be appointed to serve or govern Judea. It was a nothing place with a cantanker-ous people faithful devoted to a God who allowed them to be occupied by foreigners for centuries. What kind of God is that? One that, in the words of Eugene Peterson, became “flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood” (John 1:14, The MESSAGE). A God who appeared to Mary and promised she would bear a son, who spoke to Joseph in a dream and told him the son would be Emanuel, God-with-us, chose to intervene in history through a birth in Bethlehem. Any political strategist would have proposed a better scenario, a better locale, a better set of parents with a richer pedigree. But God chose to be with us! Emanuel! In the coming weeks, we celebrate Christmas. Some will throw around phrases like “put Christ back in Christmas” and “remember the reason for the season” in the coming weeks. Let me suggest that words are not enough for this season. Even our best Christmas carols sung with our best voices will not suffice as a witness to what God is up to in the world. God desires you! God desires me! God desires that each one of us would show the love he has for each of us by choosing to love everyone else with the same love. And there’s the other part of the Scandal. You and I are particular as well. We are women and men created in the image of God. We are black, white, red, yellow people of various clans, tribes, and nationalities who, because of God’s love for each of us, are precious in his sight. Your particularness is God’s gift to the world in you. You are called, gifted, and purposed to be about the “good work that God prepared beforehand to be your way of life” (see Ephesians 2:10). And that good work live the new commandment given by Jesus in your particular: “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:34-35). Christina Rosetti penned the words of the marvelous carol “Love Came Down at Christmas” to remind of this simple act and yet scandalous act. So get in on the scandal and show some love this Christmas. Grace and Peace, Allen Bingham, Pastor
DECEMBER Lectionary Readings
Week of December 3
Isaiah 64:1-9
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 (UMH 801)
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:24-37
Week of December 10
Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 (UMH 806)
2 Peter 3:8-15a
Mark 1:1-8
Week of December 17
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm 126 (UMH 847)
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28
Week of December 24
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Luke 1:47-55 (UMH 199)
Psalm 96 (UMH 815)
Luke 1:26-38
Luke 2:1-20
Week of December 31
Isaiah 61:10-62:3
Psalm 148 (UMH 861)
Luke 2:22-40
Psalm 8 (UMH 743)
Matthew 25:31-46
Mac Bennett
Bob and Peggy Boyette
Claudette Brownley
Aurelia Cannon
Jean Crouch
Clyde Davidson
Faith Ford
Denny Glennon
Helen Goodman
Jean Haltiwanger
Barbara McLain
Henry Meacham, Jr.
Mabel Mossor
Sam and Ava Nance
John and Eleanor Page
Faye Poplin
Billy and Delma Reynolds
Aileen Traylor
Our country, Our servicemen and women
We send our love and prayers to: The Family of Susanne McInnis The Family of John Foster
In memory of……
Jane Pittman (Irene Aiken’s mother) David and Peggy Andersen Mary Ellen Kindley David and Peggy Andersen Parker O’Neal (grandson of Tommy and Terri Nichols)
David and Peggy Andersen Peggy Leak Covington David and Peggy Andersen
Rosalie Graham (Jim’s mother) David and Peggy Andersen Earnest Eason Billy Ray Herring David and Peggy Andersen Sue Baldwin David and Peggy Andersen Ralph Crews Terry and TJ Shaw Hilton and Glenda Haines Robert Cain Dotsy Reynolds Susanne McInnis Jean Way Glenn and Helen Alexander Norman and Rita Bland
In honor of…… John and Eleanor Page Nancey McInnis
December
3rd Rita Bland 10th Doris Denney 17th Glenn Alexander 24th Chuck Wright 31st Mike Rohleder
Cost is $38 for altar flowers and $28 for flowers
on the organ. Please call the church office to let
us know who you are honoring.
16th Lonnie and Cheryl McCaskill 18th Glenn and Helen Alexander 19th Bill and Ann Poe 31st Keith and Leone McLester To add your name to our birthday or anniversary lists, call the church office, or email Cornelia at [email protected].
1st Carol Pratt 4th Bill Matheson Ann Webb 5th Bill Poe 8th Meredith McLean 10th Glenn Alexander Margaret Leak 12th Lee Griffith Doris Goodman 16th Alex McLean 18th Freida McLean Jake LeBerth 22nd Bob Ellwanger 23rd Gwen Britt Michael Rohleder 24th Natalie Sparks 28th Joel Layton 29th Sheila Gilmore Jeff Hughes Wayne Lampley
31st Mary Jane Bankhead From the FUMC Staff
It is time once again for the Nationwide
Toys for Tots campaign. The Marines of
Detachment 1252 are proud and honored to provide toys for the underprivileged children
ages 1 though 12 in our community. We are looking for another banner year and ask for your continued support and prayers. A Toys for Tots collection box will be placed in the Fellowship Hall for new, unwrapped toy donations beginning 1 November and remaining until the campaign ends on 22 December. Also you may make a tax deductible monetary donation to the Toys for Tots Foundation and place it in the offering plate or mail to Bill Rohleder at 105 Woodside Drive, Rockingham. For additional information regarding this cam-paign, please contact Bill Rohleder at 910-997-2298.
Poinsettias will be placed in the sanctuary on Sunday, Dec. 17 & 24. If you would like to place a poinsettia, please fill out the
form and drop it and your check in the offering plate or in the mail. DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 3th. Cost is $15.00. Mail
to FUMC, PO Box 637 Rockingham, NC28380
#_______ in honor of ___________________________________________________________
#_______in memory of _________________________________________________________
Given by:_____________________________________________________________________
JANUARY Lectionary Readings
Week of January 7
Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 (UMH 795)
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12
Week of January 14
1 Samuel 3:1-10
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 (UMH 854)
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
John 1:43-51
Week of January 21
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Psalm 62:5-12 (UMH 787)
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20
Week of January 228
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Psalm 111 (UMH 832)
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Mark 1:21-28
1st Greg and Kellie Clay 5th Nathan and Marie Davis Matthew and Jennifer Guncheon 24th Danny and Denise Sullivan To add your name to our birthday or anniversary lists, call the church office, or email Cornelia at [email protected].
2nd Leone McLester 13th Dexter Moseley
Lee Ann Sago 16th Holleigh McLaurin
7th Nathan Davis 19th Spencer Liles
8th Jim Entwistle 21st Jerry Morgan
9th Aimee Diggs 22nd Ron Ballard
11th George Crump 24th Marie Davis
12th Kate Davis 28th John Foster
Christmas Ornaments Available!!
We have FUMC ornaments from 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 still
available. $5 each. Come by the church office to pick
up one or two!
Ushers Steve Webb Team
Heat/AC Randy Leak and Tommy Leak
Crucifer Dec 3 Kevin Aiken Dec 10 Mason Bailey Dec 17 Shelby Matheson Dec 24 Stephanie Barrett Dec 31 Jessie Matheson Acolytes Dec 3 Trent Deane and Allie Matheson Dec 10 Lilly Matheson and Abigail Miller Dec 17 John Patrick Hutchinson and Parker Medlin Dec 24 Shelby Diggs and Jason Thomas Graham Dec 31 Kalei Grant and Olivia Meacham
TV Ministry Duff Morse Nursery: Dec 3 Leigh Ann Ray Dec 10 Meredith Gerald Dec 17 Heather Deane Dec 24 Stephanie Barrett Dec 31 Nicole Goodwin
Greeters: Dec 3 Mac and Aimee Diggs Tom Wheeler Dec 10 Jerry and Barbara Thomas Martha Scarborough Dec 17 Mike and Debbie Rohleder Cassandra Crump Dec 24 Thomas and Daphne Smith Dianne Stafford Dec 31 Jason Deane
Cole Deane RC Soup Kitchen Leader: Dec 27 Fellowship Dec 3 Glenn Alexander Dec 10 Benson Crotts Dec 17 UMM Dec 24 John Thomas Dec 31 Jeff Hughes Hedge Prayer First Sunday Discovery Young Adult Class Second Sunday The Bible Class Third Sunday Cross Currents Class Fourth Sunday Ladies Bible Class Fifth Sunday
Hermitage Ministry First Monday East Rockingham UMC Second Monday Third Monday Joyce Smith Fourth Monday Randy & Margaret Leak, Audrey Ewing
Servers for December Servers for January
Ushers Benson Crotts Team
Heat/AC Tim Capel and Steve Webb
Crucifer Jan 7 Jadyn Johnson Jan 14 Kevin Aiken Jan 21 Mason Bailey Jan 28 Shelby Matheson Acolytes Jan 7 Trent Deane and Allie Matheson Jan 14 Lilly Matheson and Abigail Miller Jan 21 John Patrick Hutchinson and Parker Medlin Jan 28 Shelby Diggs and Jason Thomas Graham
TV Ministry Randall Mace Nursery: Jan 7 Aimee Diggs Jan 14 Judy Mabe Jan 21 Meredith Gerald Jan 28 Paige Bailey
Greeters: Jan 7 Jan 14 Jan 21 Jan 28
RC Soup Kitchen Leader: Jan 24 Fellowship Jan 7 Jan 14 Jan 21 UMM Jan 28 Hedge Prayer First Sunday Discovery Young Adult Class Second Sunday The Bible Class Third Sunday Cross Currents Class Fourth Sunday Ladies Bible Class
Hermitage Ministry First Monday East Rockingham UMC Second Monday Third Monday Joyce Smith Fourth Monday Randy & Margaret Leak, Audrey Ewing
Dear Church Family, I would like to extend my deepest thanks to each of you for your calls, cards, visits, and most of all your prayers during my illness. My church family is very special to me . Please continue to remember me in prayer as I do for you. Blessings to All, John Foster
Merry Makers! Christmas Party December 14, 2017
Come to the Christmas Party in the Fellowship Hall!! Make your plans to join us at 11:00 am for a Christmas lunch for $11. We will enjoy some entertainment and after lunch we’ll open gifts and have some fun! This year we will have a Christmas tree ornament exchange. You may bring a treasure from your own tree or buy a new one for the gift exchange. Reservations are due by Thursday, December 7.
Join your Merry Makers friends for Christmas!
Ladies Night, winter edition, Tuesday, January 30, 5:30 pm.
Join us for another delicious dinner followed by an exciting
speaker and door prize drawings. Tickets will go on sale in early
January. Proceeds benefit Merry Makers! Ministry. Ladies, make
plans now to attend.
Ticket sales END on Tuesday, January 23.
at the Parsonage
Friday, December 22
3:00 pm—8:00 pm
The Binghams invite everyone to
share in the joy of the season by
dropping by their home for Christmas
treats and fellowship.
Join
Allen, Cindy, Ann, & William at
512 Scotland Avenue Rockingham
FINAL UMW EVENT FOR 2017 Sunday, December 3
2:00 pm—Fellowship Hall
The UMW General Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, December 3 in the Fellowship Hall . Chris Thornton, Chaplain with Richmond County Hospice, will be the guest speaker. Circle 9 is the Hostess Circle. All FUMC ladies are invited. We hope to have many in attendance to hear our guest speaker.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you, our FUMC con-gregation, for your generous support of UMW throughout the year, especially in the many ways that you have supported our luncheons this year. THANK YOU!
ZOE SUNDAY December 31
and
January 28
Adults can add pennies/money to “Pennies for Zoe”. You can give your money to a child to bring up during Children’s Time on Zoe Sunday or leave it by the offering plate for Zoe for a child to empty in the Zoe Pot. Thanks for your help and support for “Pennies for Zoe”! For more information or to read stories about Zoe, you can go to www.zoehelps.org.
The Chancel Choir Will present their
Christmas Cantata Sunday, December 17
6:00 pm Everyone is invited to attend to hear the beautiful voices
of the season.
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
3
9:30 SS Fellowship 10:00 Sunday School 10:55 Worship 2:00 UMW General Meeting, Rm 101
4
10:00 First Place Bible Study 12:30 DAR , BB
5 10:00 Tuesday Morning Bible Study, Chapel 12:30 Circle 9, FH 5:30-7:00 Girl Scouts, BB 6:30 God’s Gorgeous Butterflies BB
6
3:30 pm Wonderful Wednesday
4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development
6:00 Circle 8, Ellen Covington’s
7:00 Choir Rehearsal
7 11am-2pm, FH Connections
1 4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development ____________________ 8 4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development
2
_______________
9
10
9:30 SS Fellowship 10:00 Sunday School 10:55 Worship
5:00 Caroling
11 10:00 First Place Bible Study 6:00 Civitans, Rm 101
12 10:00 Tuesday Morning Bible Study, Chapel 5:30-7:00 Girl Scouts, BB
6:30 God’s Gorgeous Butterflies BB
13 3:30 pm Wonderful Wednesday 5:30 pm FH
4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development 7:00 Choir Rehearsal
14
11am-1pm, FH Christmas Party
12 noon—3:00 pm Art Guild, Rm 101
15
4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development
16
17 8:30 UMM Breakfast 9:30 SS Fellowship 10:00 Sunday School 10:55 Worship 6:00 Christmas Cantata
18 10:00 First Place Bible Study
19 10:00 Tuesday Morning Bible Study, Chapel 5:30-7:00 Girl Scouts, BB
6:30 God’s Gorgeous Butterflies BB
20
NO Wonderful Wednesday
4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development 7:00 Choir Rehearsal
21 22
4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development
23
24 9:30 SS Fellowship 10:00 Sunday School 10:55 Worship 6:00 pm Worship
25
OFFICE CLOSED
26
OFFICE CLOSED
27 11:00 Soup Kitchen
NO Wonderful Wednesday
4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development
7:00 Choir Rehearsal
28 12 noon—3:00 pm Art Guild, Rm 101
29
4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development
30
31 9:30 SS Fellowship 10:00 Sunday School 10:55 Worship
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
OFFICE CLOSED
2 10:00 Tuesday Morning Bible Study, Chapel 12:30 Circle 9, FH 5:30-7:00 Girl Scouts, BB 6:30 God’s Gorgeous Butterflies BB
3
3:30 pm Wonderful Wednesday
4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development
7:00 Choir Rehearsal
4
5 4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development
6
7
9:30 SS Fellowship 10:00 Sunday School 10:55 Worship
8 10:00 First Place Bible Study 6:00 Civitans, Rm 101 Rm 101
9 10:00 Tuesday Morning Bible Study, Chapel 5:30-7:00 Girl Scouts, BB
6:30 God’s Gorgeous Butterflies BB
10
3:30 pm Wonderful Wednesday 4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development 7:00 Choir Rehearsal
11
12 noon—3:00 pm Art Guild, Rm 101
12 9am-12noon, FH Connections
4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development
13
14 9:30 SS Fellowship 10:00 Sunday School 10:55 Worship
15
OFFICE CLOSED
16 10:00 Tuesday Morning Bible Study, Chapel 5:30-7:00 Girl Scouts, BB 6:30 God’s Gorgeous Butterflies BB
17
3:30 pm Wonderful Wednesday 4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development 7:00 Choir Rehearsal
18 19
4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development
20
21 8:30 UMM Breakfast 9:30 SS Fellowship 10:00 Sunday School 10:55 Worship
22 10:00 First Place Bible Study 6:00 Civitans, Rm 101
23 10:00 Tuesday Morning Bible Study, Chapel
5:30-7:00 Girl Scouts, BB 6:30 God’s Gorgeous Butterflies BB 6:30 Church Council, FH
24 11:00 Soup Kitchen
3:30 pm Wonderful Wednesday 4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development
7:00 Choir Rehearsal
25 12 noon—3:00 pm Art Guild, Rm 101
26
4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development
27
28 9:30 SS Fellowship 10:00 Sunday School 10:55 Worship
29 10:00 First Place Bible Study
30 10:00 Tuesday Morning Bible Study, Chapel
5:30-7:00 Girl Scouts, BB 6:30 God’s Gorgeous Butterflies BB
31 3:30 pm Wonderful Wednesday 4:45-7:00 , BB Light Personal Development
7:00 Choir Rehearsal
Chrysalis
Weekend
Chrysalis Weekend
W onderful W ednesday Afterschool Program
From 3:30—5:00 pm on W ednesdays
December 6 January 3 December 13 January 10 January 17 January 24 January 31
FUMC Children
Once again the Youth will be lining the sidewalks with Luminaries on Christmas Eve. Cost is $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00. If you
would like to place luminaries in honor or memory of a loved one just fill out this form and drop it and your check in the offering
plate or contact Mary Griffith. DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 10TH. Mail to FUMC, PO Box 637 Rockingham, NC 28380
#_______ in honor of ___________________________________________________________
#_______in memory of _________________________________________________________
Given by:____________________________________________________________________
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
December 13
5:30 pm
Everyone is invited
to come enjoy the
Children’s Play with
light refreshments
afterwards.
Calling all children! We will practice on Wednesdays at 4:00 pm
Let Statha Osborne know if your children would like to participate
or if you have any questions. We would love for all of our children
to sing for Christmas!
Youth Calendar for January
January 7 District Leadership Training—Youth Workshop Bring Dinner Money! January 13-15 No Youth—Martin Luther King Weekend Chrysalis Weekend January 21 4:00 pm UMYF 5:00 pm Youth Choir 6:15 pm Dinner_______________________________ January 28 4:00 pm UMYF 5:00 pm Youth Choir 6:15 pm Dinner_______________________________
Youth Calendar for December
December 3 4:00 pm UMYF—Advent Study 5:00 pm Youth Choir 6:15 pm Dinner________________________________ December 10 5:00 pm Go Caroling Bring Dinner Money! December 17 8:30 am UMM Breakfast for the whole family with Christmas Special! 4:00 pm UMYF—Advent Study 5:00 pm Dinner________________________________ 6:00 pm Christmas Cantata Date TBA 5:00 pm Youth Christmas Party at Ms. O’s House Everyone bring a $10 wrapped gift and your favorite food to share.
December 24 4:00 pm Live Nativity and Set Out Luminaries 6:00 pm Christmas Eve Service—Youth are Singing Family and Friends are Invited! 7:00 pm Youth will clean up luminaries
December 25 MERRY CHRISTMAS! December 31 No Youth
Be a Part of a Live Nativity Scene December 24 at Our Church
Adults, youth, children, and live animals are needed. Meet
on December 17 at 4:30 pm in the Choir Room to be fitted
for costumers. Call the church office by December 11 to
volunteer.
No previous experience required.
Annual Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser Coming Up in February
The youth will sponsor their spaghetti dinner in February with all proceeds going towards the youth trips and missions. If you
would like to be a part of the entertainment, please call Mary Griffith.
ATTENTION YOUTH AND PARENTS Please mark your calendars :
Christmas Eve Service—December 24 at 6:00 pm
Youth meet at 4:00 pm to set out luminaries and to participate in the Live Nativity. Stay after Service to clean up luminaries.
Join the Youth to go
CHRISTMAS CAROLING Sunday, December 10
5:00 pm The bus will leave the church
parking lot at 5:00 pm for caroling to all our shut-ins. We will return to the church by 7:00 pm for Hot Chocolate and Christmas goodies. Everyone is invited to join in for some OLD FASHION CHRISTMAS CHEER!!
First United Methodist Church
P. O. Box 637 Rockingham, NC 28380
Web Site www.fumcrockingham.org
Address service requested
Non-Profit
Organization
US Postage
PAID
Permit No. 23
Rockingham, NC
First United Methodist Messenger Dec-Jan 2017-18
Church Office
Hours:
Monday –Thursday
8:30 am—5:00 pm
Our phone: 910-895-4027
Our fax: 910-895-4028
Extensions:
Secretary: 100
Financial: 101
Music: 102
Youth: 103
Pastor: 105
Resident Bishop
Hope Morgan Ward
Gateway District
Superintendent
Rev. Kenneth Locklear
Our Staff
Senior Pastor
Allen Bingham [email protected]
Organist Helen Alexander
Sexton
Al Floyd
Financial Secretary
Cornelia McKenzie [email protected]
Director of Christian Education
Mary Griffith
Music Co-Directors
Statha Osborne
Chuck Wright
Secretary
Beth G. McQueen
Caring for Our Children
Tabatha Miller
RC Soup Kitchen in
Hamlet Leader for the
Month of December
VOLUNTEERS
NEEDED
Thank you for
volunteering for this
very important
Church Mission.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
to Prepare Meals and Serve at the
Richmond County Soup Kitchen in Hamlet Fourth Wednesday of each month
A volunteer is needed for December 27, 2017 and
Each Month in 2018 Call or come by the Church Office to Sign-Up.
Sign up to place flowers on the Altar during 2018 in honor or memory of loved ones. The Flower Calendar is located in the Narthex closest to the Chapel. Altar arrangements are $38. Flowers may also be placed on the organ. Arrangements are $28. Please call the church office to let us know who you are honoring.
