IN THIS ISSUE

the Beacon

First United Methodist Church Marion, NC

Seeking to be a Lighthouse guiding people in Worship, Discipleship,

and Christian Service.

A Word from Pastor Warren Page 1 Members in Action Page 2 January Calendar Page 2 Children and Youth Page 3 New Studies Page 4 Memorials Page 5 January Birthdays Page 6

January 2016

Dear Friends of Marion, The pagan god Janus had faces that looked two ways: forwards and backwards. So the first month of the year was named January, a month to look forward while looking backwards at the same time. Looking backward over the past year we each probably have had to say goodbye to someone in our lives, often sorrowfully. Looking forward to the new year we need to embrace the opportunity to say hello to someone new in our lives. As your pastor, I encourage you to welcome those that visit us with more than just a hello. Learn their name. Tell them your name. Find out where they live or work. Think of ways you might make a new friend. Do we really ever have too many friends? When we have visitors, are they left to sit in a sanctuary without someone to make a connection before the service begins? There are studies that show most people make up their mind about returning to a church in the first 10 minutes. That’s a long time before the choir sings an anthem or a message is shared. We are more comfortable worshiping in a strange place if we know someone around is a friendly person. An even better thing to do, is to welcome a new friend into your life and then invite them or bring them to church. Many times when I ask someone how they started attending a church they tell with a smile how 10, 30 , or 50 years ago “so and so” asked me to come to church with them. I have heard that the average Methodist invites one person to come to church with them every 39 years. Become someone’s friend first: knit with them, have coffee with them, watch a ball game with them, play golf with them, eat with them. Then ask your friend if you can bring them to church with you one Sunday to meet the wonderful people who are involved in our community so many ways; people that you have already told them about.

Sure they may say “no” or “maybe”, and it is not unusual to hear that response several times before they say “yes” to a friend. If you don’t ask, they will probably think that church is not very important to you. People who come to a church for the first time with a friend already feel like an insider. They don’t feel like complete strangers. Do you have room in your life for a stranger to become a new friend? If you do, it will give you a chance to share your best friend with them, Jesus. Look forward this year, and for the sake of Christ, welcome a new friend into your life. Grace and Peace, Pastor Warren

January Calendar

Page 2 THE BEACON

Acolyte Jan. 3 Hayden Vaughn Jan. 10 Olivia Bell Jan. 17 Maggie Buckner Jan. 24 Hayden Vaughn Jan. 31 McKinna Young

Crucifer Jan.3 Eavan Smith Jan. 10 Charlotte Moore Jan. 17 Tyler Young Jan. 24 Ben Kagan Jan. 31 Thomas Moomaw

Children’s Church Jan. 3 Jessica Ross Jan. 10 Anita Laffoon Jan. 17 Angela Bryan Jan. 24 Ginny Rhodes Jan. 31 Anita Laffoon

Sunday School Elementary Age Brenda Salsman Youth Anita Laffoon

Lector Jan. 3 Leslie Smith Jan. 10 Leslie Smith Jan. 17 Chris Vaughn Jan. 24 Chris Vaughn Jan. 31 Kathy Benedict

Ushers Jan. 3 Ruth Sander Tony Long Bill & Chandler Bell Jan. 10 Ruth Sander Tony Long Bill & Chandler Bell Jan. 17 Jan. 24 UMW Ladies Coffee Clean-up Emmaus Forum Sound Chris Wilson

Friday, Jan. 1 (church office closed) Sunday, Jan. 3 12:00 pm-Youth Council Meeting Wednesday, Jan. 6 8:00 am-Men’s Bible Study 6:00 pm-Wesley Covenant Service Thursday, Jan. 7 9:30 am-New Ladies Bible 7:00 pm-Staff Parish Meeting Friday, Jan. 8 10:00 am-Quilted Hugs Sunday, Jan. 10 6:00 pm-Youth Night begins! Monday, Jan. 11 7:00-Mayme Tainter Circle 7:00-Trustees Meeting Tuesday, Jan. 12 7:00-Prayer & Evangelism Meeting Wednesday, Jan. 13 8:00 am-Men’s Bible Study 9:00 am-Coffee Club 10:00 am-Morning Circle 5:30 pm-Wonderful Wed. Activities resume Thursday, Jan. 14 9:30 am-Ladies Bible Study Monday, Jan. 18 6:00 pm-ECEC Board Meeting 7:00 pm-Finance Meeting Tuesday, Jan. 19 Deadline for Newsletter Wednesday, Jan. 20 8:00 am-Men’s Bible Study 5:30 pm-Wonderful Wed. night Thursday, Jan. 21 9:30 am-Ladies Bible Study Sunday, Jan. 24 UMW Sunday 6:00 pm-Community Worship Wednesday, Jan. 27 8:00 am-Men’s Bible Study 9:00 am-Coffee Club 5:30 pm-Wonderful Wed. Night Thursday, Jan. 29 9:30 am-Ladies Bible Study

Wonderful Wednesday Schedule

5:30 pm Wonderful Wed. Meal

6:00 pm Adult Bible Study

Faithweaver Friends

7:00 pm Psalter Choir Practice

Children & Youth

Wednesday Nights for Kids

Faithweaver friends will resume on Wednesday, January 13th from

6-7 pm. Kids ages 3 through 5th grade are in-vited to join us for games, crafts, and fun as we learn about God’s Word!

Hope to see you there!

Youth Night

We’re doing something new in

January! Youth Nights will begin

on January 10th, and from there

will be on every second and fourth

Sunday of the month. We will

meet from 6-8 pm and have

dinner, then play games, have

Bible Study, do a mission project,

and more!

Every youth night will be

different but every Youth Night

needs you! We hope you’ll join us!

Mission Trip

Don’t forget that the date to sign up for

the summer mission trip is Sunday, January 10th!

Youth who have completed grades 6-12 are invited to join us in

Niagara Falls, NY as we serve God by serving others.

Let Anita know if you have questions!

Page 4 – The Beacon

United Methodist Men

Thanks to all who helped make

our peanut sales so successful in

2015! We had record sales!

In case you haven’t gotten the memo, peanut prices have gone

up slightly.

New Pricing:

Jar of peanuts: $4 each

Case of peanuts: $42

Again, thank you for supporting

this important ministry.

To the Men of the Church: We have started doing our breakfast meetings in the fellowship hall of the church. They are on the second Sunday of every month at 8 am. We would love to see and welcome you to our group.

Ladies’ Bible Study

Beginning Thursday, January 7, the Ladies Bible Study will begin the Beth Moore series on Esther. This nine-week study

focuses on the challenges and blessings of being a God-centered woman. Each session will be 2 hours from 9:30-11:30 on Thursday

mornings. If you plan to participate, please tell Debra Boldon or Cynthia Davis so participant guides can be ordered.

Participants’ guides are $10 each.

Come Join us for a new Study Series

Joining the Movement of

God’s Mission in the world.

It only takes a spark….

Take the 50 day challenge and see

what the Holy Spirit ignites for you,

your congregation, and

your community.

Begins Wednesday,

January 13…

Come Join Us!

Attention all 6th graders and above who would like to become a

professing member of FUMC

Confirmation Class

Beginning Sunday, January 10

at 5 pm for ten weeks

Sign-ups on bulletin board outside Pastor Warren’s office.

Memorials

To FUMC Family:

Thank you for the gift basket of many

useful gifts and goodies.

Thank you, Daniel for designing my

card. God Bless All, Gladys Cooper

In Memory of

Cindey Dellinger Marian Kessler Bill & Beth Ross Psalter Choir

In Honor of The Church Staff United Methodist Women Chris Simolke Fred and Mary Dodge Dina Stainbrook The Boldons

Dear FUMC, Thanks so much for all you

do for the children of Marion Elementary School,

and thanks for providing shoes for a little boy who

needed them. Diane Ray

Marion Elementary

Dear Church Family, We want to express our appreciation for your cards, phone calls, visits, prayers, food, and love. Through this challenging time we have experienced God’s love and support through friends like you. God bless you all and thank you so very much. Mary and Garner Hallman

To our friends and former neighbors of Marion FUMC, The Bonners have sold their former vacation home in Marion on Little Bald Mountain. This will be our final contribution to a wonderful church and brothers and sisters in Christ. We wish you all the very best of health, happiness and prosperity, and ultimately, the greatest of all gifts...salvation. Lane and Marie Bonner

Page 5-The Beacon

March Birthdays

January Birthdays

A Lighthouse guiding people in Worship, Spiritual Growth, and Service.

First United Methodist Church 176 Robert St. Marion, NC 28752 828-652-7010 marionfumc.com

Jan. 1 Zeb Kincaid David Long Jan. 2 Elizabeth Gowan Jan. 3 Ann Arney Jan. 7 Bruce Haynes Jan. 8 Kyle Benedict Sam Hallyburton Jan. 9 Betty Sue Patton Jan. 11 Kaye Cuthbertson Charlotte Moore Jan. 12 Charles Sander Jan. 16 Walt Bagwell Jan. 17 Frank Boldon

Jan. 18 Mary Dodge Jan. 19 Laqueta Carroll Karah Wilson Jan. 24 Greg Simolke Jan. 26 Laura Conley Jan. 27 Tyler Cook Righter Long Jan. 29 Kathy Benedict Crystal Brown Evelyn Kinninger Jan. 30 Linda Cloherty Tonja Pool