Greetings to the Saints of Northwoods! Love is an Attitude…a Way of Life! February has briskly arrived! This year Ash Wednesday is on the 14th and then Sunday, 18th begins the Season of Lent. Of course Ash Wednesday amazingly coincides with the celebration of Valentines this year. In consideration of Valentines, marriage, relationships and love, I have chosen to share the following message with you from Dr. Gary Chapman, the author of the book, The Five Love Languages. He sat in my office and said, "I just don't love my wife anymore. I wish I did, but I don't. I've even asked God to give me love for her. But I

just don't have any feelings for her anymore.” This husband was absolutely sincere, but he was misguided in his understanding of love. He pictured love as warm, emotional, romantic feelings for his wife. Since these did not exist, he could not manufacture them, and even God was not providing them, he concluded that his marriage was over. Thousands of men and women in our society have come to the same conclusion. True love, the kind of love that keeps a couple together for a lifetime, is not a feeling but an attitude. It says, With the help of God, I'm going to do everything I can to enhance the life of my spouse. This attitude leads to words and actions that are beneficial to your spouse and often stimulate warm emotions inside the spouse's heart. If this person reciprocates with words and behavior that express his or her love for you, warm emotions may also return to you.

One of the great tragedies of Western culture is that we have equated love with warm emotional feelings. In fact, these warm romantic feelings are the result of love, not the essence of love. This is why love can be commanded, as in Ephesians 5:25: "Husbands, love your wives"; and love can be taught and learned, as noted in Titus 2:4, where the older women are instructed to teach the younger women to love their husbands. God doesn't command emotions, but He often commands attitudes and behavior. The good news is that whatever God commands, He enables us to do. Love Is an Attitude In the early days of my marriage, my wife and I were fairly miserable. We both wondered if we had married the wrong person. In my desperation, I said to God, "I don't know what else to do, and I am asking for Your help." As soon as I prayed that prayer, there came to my mind a visual image of Jesus on His knees, washing the feet of His followers. I sensed God say to me, "That's the problem in your

THE MESSENGER

Issue 195 February 2018

Website: www.northwoodsumc.org

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marriage. You don't have the attitude of Christ toward your wife.” I knew what He said was true. At that time, my attitude toward my wife was, Look, I know how to have a good marriage. If you will listen to me, we'll have one. She wouldn't listen, so I blamed her for our poor marriage. God gave me a new perspective. The problem was not her but my attitude. I said, "Lord, forgive me. With all of my study in Greek, Hebrew and theology, I missed the whole point of love. Please give me the attitude of Christ toward my wife. Let me see her as one whom You love and let me be Your agent for loving her.” In retrospect, it was the greatest prayer I have ever prayed regarding my marriage because God changed my attitude. I was no longer waiting for warm feelings; I was choosing to love her as Christ loved His disciples. I asked my spouse three questions: 1. What can I do to help you? 2. How can I make your life easier? 3. How can I be a better husband or wife to you?

Her answers led my behavior. When I started serving her as Christ served His disciples, her attitude toward me changed. It did not happen overnight, but within three months, she started asking me those same questions. My behavior had touched her heart, and her attitude and behavior had changed. First John 4:19 says that we love because God loved us first. Love stimulates love. Love as a Way of Life Some say love is an act of benevolence. That is not totally true. People can do a beneficial action with an unloving attitude. The husband who says with a harsh voice, "OK, I'll take the garbage out if you will get off my back" has not performed an act of love. The husband who mows the grass simply because his wife has been nagging him for weeks is doing a kind act, but it may be done to silence her critical words. The wife who agrees to be sexually intimate with her husband simply out of a sense of duty or guilt is not performing an act of love, either. Love is the choice to cooperate with God in serving your spouse. The individuals who truly love

see themselves as God's agents for enriching the lives of their marriage partner. For them, love is a way of life. They are constantly looking for ways to help, encourage and support the partner. Such love often stimulates warm, romantic feelings in the heart of the spouse. Emotions are the icing on the cake. But without a loving attitude and appropriate behavior, the icing will melt. God wants to use you in your marriage. Consider this Valentines you take the time to ask each other the above three questions. Ask Jesus to give you a loving attitude toward your spouse and to pour out His love through you. It is a prayer God will answer!

In His love, Pastor Jerry

Service Times & Activities Sundays: 8:45 am Praise & Worship

10:00 am Sunday School

11:00 am Traditional Worship

12:00 pm Senior Adult Lunch (3rd Sunday)

12:15 pm United Methodist Youth

1:00 pm Hispanic Worship

3:00 pm Sharing & Caring Widows Group (2nd Sunday)

Mondays: 5:30 pm Deployed Spouse’s Dinner (1st Monday)

Tuesdays: 10:00 am United Methodist Women/ Naomi Ruth Circle (3rd Tuesday)

11:30 am Men’s Bible Study

6:00 pm United Methodist Women/ Lydia Circle (2nd Tuesday)

6:00 pm United Methodist Men (2nd Tuesday)

6:30 pm Fusion (1st & 3rd Tuesday)

Wednesdays: 10:00 am Women’s Bible Study

5:00 pm Youth Weekday Worship (Annex)

6:00 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal

7:00 pm Praise Choir Rehearsal

7:15 pm Hispanic Bible Study

Prayer Concerns Our Men and Women of our Armed Forces and their families Don Batchelor Walt Baur Cleve Baysinger Doug Bowman David Cavalere Lisa Codwise Dixon Family Judy Earp Tyler Earp Flagg family Flihan family Madeline Flihan Holman Fite Lillian Fite Brandon Flowers Joyce Fournier Jeff Fournier Sharon Goodson Faith Handley Julie Hanes Earl Holland Patty Jackson Beth Kent Shirley Lambka Camile Lorento Dick Moore Kelsey Morris Kylie Murphy Evelyn Payne Sandi Pilcher John Quail Anne Shaw-Quinn Linda Shriner Loretta Small Kathryn Smith Cindy Sprague Kathy Stanford Corey Wodrich Lori Woosley

FOOD PANTRY Each Communion Sunday you are invited to bring a bag or box filled with these items as a love offering. Please know

that any items from the list are appreciated at any time.

For one adult (1 week of meals):

*1 Box of instant rice 14oz 2 cans of fruit 15oz 2 cans of soup 16oz *2 bx Mac n Cheese 7.25oz

*1 box Saltines 4pk 16oz 1 jar Peanut Butter 16oz 1 jar Jelly 13 oz *2 cans evaporated milk 12oz

2 cans of vegetables 15oz 1 can Pork ‘n Beans 15oz 4 cans meat (tuna, chicken, SPAM, etc) 5oz

*1 box 10 pack variety instant Oatmeal

*items we need most right now

Rick Baldwin can do “the leg work” for you! If you would like him to do the shopping, make sure to give Rick your

$25 and he will get the list and bring it to the church! To date, your generosity has provided more than 80 units of

groceries for our Food Pantry.

“As we come to be fed on Communion Sunday, in turn we feed

others as Jesus would have us to do.”

The nursery is always in need of supplies and we would like to ask for assistance from our church family. If you feel so inclined, these are the supplies we regularly use. Please drop them off in the nursery or you can give them to LeighAnn Swigart.

Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Goldfish crackers Veggie straws Kleenex Paper towels Baby wipes Diapers/Pull-ups all sizes Crayons

NAOMI RUTH CIRCLE

Naomi Ruth Circle met January 16, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall with 14 members present. Our Purpose was read in unison.

Our program was given by Debbie Holland, wherein she had Casper & Heather, Unleashed Dog Trainers, to bring their dogs and demonstrate to the members what they were to do for people who have diabetes or seizers. A very good program was enjoyed by everyone.

Marian Shiver, Naomi Ruth Circle treasure, reported we have $29.00 in our treasury. Vera Strong reported that the UMW treasurer has $1,746.84. A thank you note was read from July Oliver & family thanking Naomi Ruth Circle for the donation to the trustees in memory of her husband, Jim Oliver.

Judy Oliver, UMW President, attended the Sound District A.L.O.T. S. Day at Queen’s Creek United Methodist Church in Hubert. Circles are to have three new forms for 2018 to be completed and in the mail by January 31, 2018. Judy reported this was a good meeting.

February Missionaries with birthday the same as our February birthday ladies were given their birthday missionaries to pray for.

Nanellen Unsworth brought books to the meeting and discussed each one. Members gave her a round of applaud for the fine job she is doing with our UMW reading program.

Marian Shiver will have devotion and Ruth Cox will give the program for our February 20th meeting.

Sub-District Mission meeting at Pine Valley, Saturday, February 3, 2018, registration at 9:30 a.m.

February is a short month and March brings Church Women United to our church for lunch. Please be generous when Marian Shiver calls you for a donation of food.

February Birthdays: Linda Johnson 11 Shelia Barth 12 Elizabeth Soukup 18 In Loving Memory of: Louise Garris 4 (10-02-07)

LYDIA CIRCLE The Lydia Circle will meet on February 10 at 9:00. We are meeting on a Saturday this month so that we can prepare and deliver food to police and fire departments in Jacksonville. We will resume our normal schedule in March. Any ladies interested in helping are welcome to attend.

Backpack Blessings-

Items Needed February:

Notebook Paper (wide ruled) One subject spiral notebook

Composition notebook

The Senior Adult Luncheon for February is scheduled for Sunday February 18, 2018, 12 noon and we will be “Celebrating the 90’s”. Our entertainment will be the New River Harmony Quartet. Someone will be in the foyer for you to register for two Sundays before the 18th. The cost is $7.00 per person. Members who are in their 90s and those turning 90 in 2018 will receive an invitation to be our quest and they can bring 2 family members for $ 7.00 a person but must be registered. Come and enjoy the good food, entertainment and fellowship. THE DATE FOR THE SENIOR DINNER WILL BE CHANGED TO THE FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH IN MARCH FOR 2018 The March luncheon will be scheduled for March 4, 2018, Communion Sunday which is only two weeks after the February 18th luncheon; therefore, someone will be collecting money beginning February 18th and 25th. SENIOR UPDATES The Share and Care Widows Group is now meeting the 2nd Sunday of every month at Ruby Tuesdays restaurant at 3 pm. It is Dutch treat and all widows are invited to attend and enjoy the fellowship. Call Carolyn VanDevender, 346-9859 TRIPS FOR 2018: Onslow Senior Services West Virginia train adventure June 11- June 13, $529.00 per person double occupancy call 989-3004. New York City Christmas, November 27-30, $659.00 per person double occupancy call 989-3004 or 989-3008 Activities: call 455-2747 Tai Chi for Arthritis

Home Health and In home Hospice Senior Health Insurance Information Program

Home Delivered Meals & Transportation (Mon-Fri)

Tax Preparation Free smoke alarms call 347-3581

American Red Cross Senior Legal Helpline 1-877-579-7562 (free from 9:00 - 11am & 1:00- 3:00pm Mon-Fri)

MEN'S BREAKFAST All men are invited to attend the Methodist Men's Breakfast on the second Thursday of each month, at 7:30 AM, at Denny's. FOOD PANTRY Please continue to donate food for the Food Pantry - donations are welcome at any time. The point of contact for the food pantry is Ray and Peggy Eckenrode. Remember to also bring food as a pantry offering on Communion Sundays (first Sunday of each month). MEN'S BIBLE STUDY The Bible Study is during lunch every Tuesday at 1145-1245 in the Church Fellowship Hall. Lunch will be available (sandwiches and chips) for $4. Food is available beginning at 1130, so you may come early if you wish to socialize before the study. We are studying "2nd Corinthians" in the Bible. No special materials are required to participate - just bring a Bible. If you don't have one, there are plenty around the church to use. Come and explore God's Word with us. MEN'S MONTHLY MEETING The next Men's meeting is scheduled for 13 Feb 2018 at 1800. Given the women have a special event planned, we will meet at Denny's for this meeting. We look forward to seeing you at this meeting!!! Come and join us for a time to serve and fellowship!

RELAY FOR LIFE

Curtis Hildt would like to invite our congregation to join his Relay for Life team “Love Cures All. The relay on the 21st of April from 11 am to 9:00 pm. We will not be selling anything at the relay. It will be a free walk as you are willing and a time of meeting other Christians and friends. If anyone is interested in joining the team or just donating, please go to Relayforlife.org/onslow. Select join team or donate and search for Love Cures All, to join team or Curtis Hildt to donate. If you have any questions you may ask Dawn Hildt or call Curtis at 910-324-1117 or contact me at readabook1@charter.net . Please consider joining us.

COUNCIL ON MINISTRY

The next Council on Ministries will be on February 15th at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Please make sure you have any agenda items to Sheila (kevshebar@yahoo.com) ONE WEEK before the meeting. This gets the agenda set in advance and allows the meeting to run efficiently! Continue to pray for your church leadership as we, the church leaders, pray for this church and that we would always be doing God's work and his will.

MFM Please join us February 5, 2018 at 530 for our Deployed Spouses Dinner. The Deployed Spouses Dinner will now be held on the first Monday of the month. This month the church will be providing fried chicken for the dinner, we are asking volunteers to bring their favorite side. We need volunteers and/or food donations to keep providing successful dinners for our military families. We want to reach out to as many deployed spouses as possible, please spread the word to any families with deployed service members and/or military personal you may know, so that we can inform families of the deployed spouses ministry. Thank you for your support, without our volunteers and donations we would not be able to provide this service for our military families. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16) Please sign up here: Sign up for Deployed Spouse Dinner: http://signup.com/go/YySvfGG or email Elizabeth Smith at militaryfamily@northwoodsumc.org

Dear Northwoods United Methodist Church Family,

January was a CRAZY month!!! We started school a week late because of the snow, and a week later we had snow again!! So, We welcome in the month of love, February and hope it is uneventful!! Pancakes and Pajamas is something we can look forward to during this cold month. I also enjoy Valentine’s Day artwork which adorns the hallways and sweet treats from your sweetie! We are now officially working on SY2018-19 Registration and open House. Wow! Learn, Grow, and Be Blessed!

Linda Johnson

GODLY PLAY®

Godly Play® is a curriculum of spiritual practice exploring the

mystery of God's presence in our lives. God inviting us into

Scripture and spiritual

experience. Godly Play® practice teaches us to listen for God and

to make authentic and creative responses to God’s call in our lives. Godly Play® continues every Sunday at 10:00

am in the education building for kindergarten through fifth grade. The current class is practicing storytelling of

our favorite bible stories to share with the new children

who will join our class in the fall.

The Godly Play classroom has grown in activities AND in attendance! We are so excited to share in God's

community in this way and ask for your assistance in the

following ways: Please be on time and have your child to the classroom by 10 am and pick your child at 10:45 am.

Please have your child bring their bible. If they do not have a bible let us know. We need additional helpers in

the room and helpers who will provide feast items each month. For more information contact Amy Whitsitt at

discipleship@northwoodsumc.org or Sheila Barth at

kevshebar@yahoo.com.

GREETERS Feb 4 8:45 am Connie Colley

11 am Available Feb 11 8:45 am Connie Colley

11 am Available

Feb 18 8:45 am Connie Colley

11 am Available

Feb 25 8:45 am Connie Colley 11 am Available

Greeters – If you are interested in greeting at services, please let Rick Baldwin know! 910-340-3151 or rbaldwin1@ec.rr.com

Feb 4 Available

Feb 11 Available

Feb 18 Available

Feb 25 Available

USHERS

Feb 4 8:45 am - Rick Baldwin & Jerry Zima

11 am - Ray Eckenrode & Field Kellogg

Feb 11 8:45 am - Jim & Cheryl Moody 11 am - Tavita Saelua & Herb Ripley

Feb 18 8:45 am - Rusty & Casey Smith

11 am - Zack & Charlene Nichols Feb 25 8:45 am - Derrick Mangas & Randy Fitzgerald

11 am - Mike Mozingo & Patrick Pritchett

Ushers – If you cannot be there on Sunday,

please FIND A REPLACEMENT and let Rick Baldwin, Usher/Greeter Coordinator know ASAP! Thank you!

Church Finance Statement as of December 31, 2017

General Fund

Budgeted YTD Percent Used

REVENUE $237,950.00 $ 21,782.65 9.15%

EXPENSE $237,950.00 $ 16,714.85 7.02%

Debt Retirement

Budgeted YTD Percent Used

REVENUE $61,984.32 $ 3,530.70 5.70%

EXPENSE $61,984.32 $ 11,805.39 19.05%

· Cash Available $ 24,315.14

2018 Financial Requirements (Note: All Calculations are based on 95 Giving Units)

Debt Retirement Funds Required Monthly $5,165.39 Need $57.40 per month from each giving unit

General Fund Funds Required Weekly $4,492.78 Need $49.92 per week from each giving unit

2017 Budget per Giving Unit: $216.32 (General) Plus $57.40 (Debt)

$273.72 per month

2017 Budget + 48 mo. Debt Rtmt payoff: $216.32 (General) Plus $89.50 (Debt)

$305.82 per month

Date Worship Weekly Sunday Total School

Jan 7 8:45 - ---- / 11 - 73 73 --- Jan 14 8:45 - 113/ 11 - 92 205 51 Jan 21 8:45 - 131/ 11 - 103 234 59 Jan 28 8:45 - 117/ 11 - 68 185 63 Average 8:45 - 120/ 11 - 84 174 58

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2 3

4

5 Chong Johnson

6

Mindy Peyton

7

Betty Jo Lloyd Brian Humphrey Bryan Jewell & Kate Soukup-Jewell

8

Donna Fairbanks Lou Hunter

9 10

Daniel Barker Ryan Dangerfield

11

Alison Soukup Linda Johnson

12

Bess Brickley Sheila Barth

13

Rematha Ashford Zach Whitsitt

14

Margaret Dangerfield Matt St Clair

15

William Justice

16

Andi Goetschius

17

John Walsh Bonnie Picklesimer

18

Elizabeth Soukup Jesse Kellogg

19

Ashley Conaway

20 “J” May

21 Miya Mangas

22

Joseph Sabel Nathan Reaves Ron & Ruth Cox

23

Zenora Saelua Bob Johnson

24

Amelia Schwarzer

25 Missy McTigue

26

Kevin Barth

27

Deborah Arthur Thelia Miller Tony & Connie Colley

28

Rhyne Garris Grayson Whitsitt

February 2018 Birthdays

Anniversaries

Upcoming February Events:

Feb 4 – Children’s Church Meeting (10am Fellowship Hall) Feb 5 – Deployed Spouse Dinner (5:00pm Fellowship Hall) Feb 6 – Fusion (6:00pm Fellowship Hall) Feb 8 – Men’s Breakfast (7:30am Denny’s)

Feb 11 – Hospitality Meeting (10am Hospitality Room) Sharing-Caring Widows Group (3pm Ruby Tuesday) Feb 13 – Lydia Circle/UMMen (6:00pm Fellowship Hall) Feb 14 – Ash Wednesday – Services at Pine Valley UMC 6:30pm; Trinity UMC 6pm; Richlands UMC 7pm Feb 15 – Generosity Meeting (5:30pm Pastor’s Office) Council on Ministries Mtg (6:30pm Fellowship Hall) Feb 18 – Senior Adult Luncheon (12noon Fellowship Hall) Feb 20 – Naomi Ruth Circle (10am Fellowship Hall) Fusion (6:30pm Fellowship Hall)

Bishop Hope Morgan Ward…………………Raleigh Area

Rev. Linda Taylor…………Sound District Superintendent

Alexis Lopez….......…………………..Hispanic Ministries

Roger Brault………………...……...….……….Lay Leader

Elizabeth Soukup…………………..……Church Secretary

LeighAnn Swigart……………….……Financial Secretary

Linda Johnson…..……………….……..Preschool Director

Daniel Leonard…....…...……………………....Custodian

Rev. Dr. Jerry D. Lewis……………………………..Pastor

Church Office Hours

Monday – Thursday 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

910-346-9727