The Grapevine New Covenant United Methodist Church

THOUGHTS OF THE PASTOR

There is a story that comes out of South Africa

and the last days of apartheid about a woman

named Lindiwe Macozoma. Like many black

women of that day and place, she worked as a

maid in the home of a wealthy white South

African. On her first day of work at a new job,

her employer took her back into the kitchen to

give her a little tour. She was showed the dishes

and the fine china for the family, and then she opened a cupboard way

down below the sink and showed Lindiwe a set of old dishes that were

scratched from years of use. She said to Lindiwe, “These are the

dishes you are to use when you eat your meals.”

The next day as she got ready to leave home for work, Lindiwe took a

place setting of the most beautiful china from her own house,

wrapping it carefully to take to work with her. As Lindiwe was eating

lunch that day on her china, her employer asked where the beautiful

china came from. Lindiwe told her employer that in her community

they don’t eat off old, broken dishes but they buy the nicest things

because they must last for a long time.

Oh, for the wisdom to invest our time, money, and self in something

that lasts. Jesus speaks about focusing on things that last in Matthew

6:19-21 where he says, 19-21"Don't hoard treasure down here where it

gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by

burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and

rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure

is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.” (The

Message)

In the early days of March, begins the season of Lent for the Christian

community. Lent is the season of preparation for Easter. It lasts for

40 days (not including Sundays) reminding us of the 40 days that Jesus

faced temptation in the wilderness. May these days of Lent bring us

closer in our walk with Christ as we embrace more fully the things of

God that eternally last. - Pastor Randy Wall

Pasto

r’s

Corner

Sportsman

Banquet

Please join us for the

4th Annual New Cov-

enant Sportsman

Banquet on Satur-

day, March 8th.

Doors open at 5:00

p.m., dinner will be

served at 6:00 p.m.

Cost is $10 which in-

cludes a spaghetti

supper, guest speak-

er, Jeremy Harrill,

NC Wildlife Officer,

and door prizes.

There will also be a

silent auction and

vendors. This is an

event you will not

want to miss! Ques-

tions, please see

John Carpenter.

Acolytes for March March 2—–Ginny Overbay March 9—–Amelia Matzke March 16—Theodore Ferens March 23—Daniel Overbay March 30—Isabella Bradham

Online Bible Study You can do this bible study with friends and fami-ly, or all by yourself. Facebook users, ask to join the “New Covenant Church online bible study” group. Once you are a member of the group, you can see the weekly videos, post comments, and share questions. Want to be apart but not on Fa-cebook? Get with a friend or family member who is on facebook. During March, we will continue our bible study on the Gospel of Luke.

Greetings and blessings to you from The Most High. We have been having a won-derful beginning to the new year in Youth. I am so proud of their growth and love for Christ, it is amazing to see and watch God move in our youth's lives.

February was an awesome month, that all began with a trip to the House of Prayer where the youth lead worship and brought the message. They did an awesome job in stepping out of the way and just worshiping God. The response was one we will all remember for the rest of our lives. Then, be-tween snow storms, we began a new ministry the Youth want-ed to start which is "Make the Homeless Smile." We had a very blessed day making PB&J sandwiches with some fruit, candy and a bottle of water and then went uptown and hand-ed them out to the homeless. It was so wonderful to see the love and appreciation from the homeless folks we met. It was touching and moving for all of us. We all agreed that next time we want to spend more time talking to those who wish to talk, singing and praising with those who would like to do that, and spending time in prayer with those who would like to pray. Our next trip will be March 15th. We will begin around 9am and head to Charlotte around 11am and will re-turn between 3 & 4. We encourage everyone to come out and join us, you will not be disappointed and will walk away feel-ing so blessed.

Also, in the works, we are planning a workday with Sam and his group at the UMAR Barnabas house. We will pressure wash and then end the day with a cookout and campfire. We may take one of our Make the Homeless Smile days and ex-change for this project. The Youth will be planning our next dance for those with special needs.

Here are some dates we have set for the coming months. Also, watch for new events and missions coming soon. March 15th: Make the Homeless Smile April 4th-6th: Jr. High planning on going to Kaleidoscope April 26th: Make the Homeless Smile April 27th: YOUTH FUNDRAISER: We are honored to have a play group of youth coming to preform Godspell, Sadie Matzke is a part of this group. We will not be selling tickets, but we are planning a meal or a coffee style cafe. We are still working out all the details, but please plan on coming out and supporting these young people with your presence, and also support our youth program in the fundraiser. May 2nd: Youth Lock Inn: One last run through before Youth Sunday. May 4th: Youth Sunday May 10th: YOUTH FUNDRAISER: YARD SALE!!!!! More info to come. May 24th: Make the Homeless Smile June 7th: House of Prayer June 21st: Make the Homeless Smile July 13th: Carolina Cross Connections

Thank you all for your love, support and prayer. God bless you!!!! Todd Guest

Ladies Lunch Bunch

will be held on Mon-

day, March 17th, at

Ruby Tuesday in

Gastonia. Meet at

the church at 11:00

or at Ruby Tuesday

at 11:30 a.m. All

ladies are invited to share a meal and

fellowship with other Christians.

Please join us for our

Ash Wednesday Service on March 5th at 7:00 p.m.

Mike & Tina Miller 1

Trey & Emily Trivett 3

Randy & Ann Wall 8

Tom & Aloma Dougherty 20

John & Kelly Carpenter 22

Jack & Mary Bradham 30

D.W. & Pam Shirley 30

Happy Anniversary!

Pam Shirley 2

Ernestine Carroll 3

Paul O’Donohue 3

Donny Coltharp 4

Jason Tucker 6

Grace Duckworth 7

Robbie Rudisill 9

Marissa Beatty 11

Kortney Beatty 11

LouAnn Simmons 11

Christie Everhart 12

Janet Hinson 12

Connor Patterson 12

Nancy Hall 13

Sadie Largent 14

Ron Elliott 16

Marie Bommer 17

John Carson 17

Ann Crocker 17

Cody Miller 19

Austin Smith 19

Tommy Bennett 20

Aloma Dougherty 22

Sally Ferens 23

Valerie Park 23

Jason Henkel 24

Rita Fedukovich 25

Tommy Everhart 26

Matt Lamm 26

Kenny Henkel 27

Jack Bradham 29

Ramsey Carson 29

T.C. Miller 30

Cameron Ganous 31

Jerry Miller 31

OOPS . . . Did we miss your birthday or anniversary? Please let us know! Drop a note off by the office so that our records

can be updated.

Visitation Teams for March

March 2nd—–-Sam Price March 9th——Bob & Della Dionne March 16th—–Ron & Ann Ballard March 23rd—–Bobby & Jane Riggins

March 30th—–Shannon Reavis & Debbie Stewart

9:00 a.m. Service 11:00 a.m. Service

David Moore Matt Price

Doug Hyche Sam Price

Wayne Beatty

Donny Coltharp

Important Dates/Activities

Our Country, Remick Family Our Church, Anita Jarvis Marriages, Shea Stanley Hawkins Unspoken Shannon Reavis, Crystal Abernathy Family Differences Homeless The Unemployed Carol & Harvey Thomas Johnson Family, Suzette Grooms Harry Robinson, Angela Johnson Rick Owens, Ann Ballard Seth Tinsley, Zelma Macemore Family Holly Diggs, Parker Jane Riggins, Ray Lanham Patsy Costa, Barbara Peggy Arrowood, Samuel Smith Donna Enright, Margaret Branch Sherrill Beatty Pete, Ashley Margetich Jim Barfield, Heather Dover O’Brian Family Jesse, Gail Wilson, Jason Wilson Todd & Linda Cloninger Gio Peterson, Candi Carter Joshua Stickel, Steve Blackley Tom Stickel Hannah Martin, Dannielle Poteat David Martin, Ruth Allen John Merwin

LeJean Barker Pat Brown Heather Miller Trey Trivett Betty Simmons Edge Family Jeanette King Family LeAnn & Victoria Tim Hamilton Tim Loftin Richard Statin Family LouAnn Simmons Our Military, Firefighters Teachers, Police Ava, Ann & Phil Haines Jennifer Messer Morgan Baucom Tony & Marque Dowell John Burleson Angela Walton Robin Lanham’s Family Smith, Woodall & Hutchison Family Baron Smith Margaret Branch Unemployed Steven Bennett Jeff Gardner Aloma & Tom Dougherty Linda Jones Taylor Enright Heart Sisters Dee Morris Robert Latour Family Carol Hamilton Kaylee Overton, Sarah Baucom Ethan Hartnett Rose Mast

Remember those who cannot be a

part of our fellowship on a reg-

ular basis:

Ruth Allen Terrace Ridge Assisted Living 1251 East Hudson Blvd. Gastonia, NC 28054 (704) 864-8948 Gerald Carroll 321 Winding Trl. Stanley, NC 28164 (704) 263-9021 Jane Waldroop Woodlawn Haven Rest Home

301 Craig St., Room B4 Mt. Holly, NC 28120

If there is someone you would like to put on this list, please call the church office.

Lay Speakers There will be a gathering of the Lay Speakers on Monday, March 3rd, at 7:00 p.m.

Fellowship Meal Join us for our Fellowship Meal on Wednesday, March 5th, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The Faith Works SS Class will be sponsoring this meal. Menu will be BBQ, beans, slaw, etc. We will need desserts and beverages. Proceeds will go to the Building Fund.

UMM Breakfast The UMM breakfast has been scheduled for Sunday, March 9th, at 7:00 a.m., in the FLC.

Administrative Council Administrative Council will meet on Monday, March 17th, at 7:00 p.m.

Worship Committee There will be a meeting of the Worship Committee on Monday, March 24th, at 7:00 p.m.

March Nursery Schedule

9:00 11:00

March 2 Samuel & Anna Davenport David & Marjorie Goodling

March 9 John & Kelly Carpenter Kristy & Brittany Ballard

March 16 Curt & Courtney Deskus Debbie & Emily Stewart

March 23 Tara Moore & Carol Hamilton Matthew & Jennifer Price

Thank you for helping with our nurseries! If you can’t make your assigned Sunday, please contact Luann Elliott & Debbie Stewart for 9:00 a.m. and Marjorie Goodling & Dannette Carson for 11:00 a.m.

March 30 Eddy & Sandy Cox Shannon & Jaimie Stowe

Isn’t It Exciting Being A Christian?

Is it always exciting being a Christian? How about when tragedy strikes good-hearted, loving people who earnestly seek to serve the

living God? I’m thinking of the story of Dr. Ignazz Phillip Semmelweiss (1818-1865), a Hungarian physician who worked in the

maternity hospital in Vienna. In my research, I have not found evidence that Dr. Semmelweiss claimed salvation through Jesus, but I

did find that he had read the Bible.

Dr. Semmelweiss became distressed by the alarming number of patients who were dying of puerperal infection, also known as

“childbed fever.” Healthy women would come into the hospital, deliver their babies, and within a few days nearly 30% of them had

died of childbed fever. Women who delivered their babies at home rarely contracted this infection, and their death rate was only 3%.

Dr. Semmelweiss decided to institute a practice of hand-washing with chlorinated water for all doctors between patient examina-

tions. The mortality rate immediately dropped to 1%.

You would think the medical staff would have hailed Dr. Semmelweiss for his life-saving technique. Instead, his colleagues, as well

as doctors around the world, became incensed at him for what they considered to be “time-wasting” practices. Many also felt it was

beneath their dignity to be forced to wash so frequently.

Opposition to Dr. Semmelweiss became so intense that he eventually was fired from his position at the hospital. Dr. Semmelweiss

wrote books filled with data proving that the hand-washing procedure would save thousands of women’s lives. Sadly, Dr. Semmel-

weiss was ignored by the medical community. The strain of working to convince doctors of the need to follow his ideas, and dis-

traught at the thousands of needless deaths, Dr. Semmelweiss suffered a mental breakdown and was admitted to a Vienna mental

hospital. Three weeks later, Dr. Semmelweiss died.

That was the end of Dr. Semmelweiss. He died a lonely, tragic death. but, despite that tragedy, this was not the end of the story.

Eventually, the medical community came to accept Dr. Semmelweiss’ techniques and it became accepted practice for doctors to

scrub their hands with soap and water. Later, the discovery was made that bacteria, unknown in Dr. Semmelweiss’ day, were the

cause of childbed fever and these tragic deaths. Because of Dr. Semmelweiss’ heroic efforts, thousands and perhaps hundreds of

thousands of women’s lives have been saved. Today, Dr. Semmelweiss is remembered as the “savior of mothers.”

The medical community of the nineteenth century did not know the cause of infection – But God certainly did. God outlined specific

instructions in the Bible about how to prevent spread of disease and death. God instructed His people to purify themselves with run-

ning water whenever they came in contact with dead people or animals. God knew about bacteria and infection, and He sought to

avoid tragedies like this, just as Dr. Semmelweiss did. I’m sure God was just as distraught as Dr. Semmelweiss at seeing such a trag-

edy. If those doctors had only followed God’s biblical instructions, those women would have lived.

With Dr. Semmelweiss, his story in many ways is a tragic one. He was driven out of his mind from grief because he could not save

those women. But I can imagine a future day coming when Dr. Semmelweiss will stand at God’s throne in Heaven. I can envision

him surrounded by thousands upon thousands of grateful women whose lives were spared because Dr. Semmelweiss followed Bibli-

cal practices for purification. Dr. Semmelweiss’ story didn’t end in a mental ward. No, I think it will end in the glory of Heaven.

The tragedy he experienced will be over and forgotten and his heavenly celebration will begin. Are you going through a painful tri-

al? Hang in there. Follow God’s word. It will all work out sooner or later. Isn’t it exciting being a Christian? Marvin

UMW Morning Circle Please join the UMW Morning Circle on Thursday, March 13th, at 10:00 a.m., at the church. All ladies are invited to attend.

UMW Morning Circle Volunteer at Mt. Holly Adult Day Care

On the second Tuesday of every month, the UMW Morning Circle will volunteer at the Mt. Holly Adult Day Care. They will be leaving the church at 9:30 a.m. to go to the day care center. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please see Car-ol Thomas.

UMW Hart Circle The UMW Hart Circle will meet on Thursday, March 13th, at 6:30 p.m., at the home of Becky Kay-lor. Group 3, Gail Foster, Robin Lanham, Marjorie Goodling, Dannette Carson and Jennifer Tucker, will provide refreshments. All ladies are invited to attend.

Shining Hope Farms provides therapies for people living with disabilities. Shining Hope Farms is a member of the American Hippotherapy Asso-ciation, a group of medical

professionals (physical, occupational and speech thera-pists and others) who are interested in the use of equine movement as a treatment strategy. Occupational, physi-cal and speech therapies are offered in the farm environ-ment utilizing the highly motivating tools of interactions with farm animals and the natural environment for ther-apeutic rehabilitation, skill building and adapta-tion. Gifts from our March 2nd Mission Offering will go to Shining Hope Farms through Run for the Mon-ey. Any questions may be directed to Milinda Kirkpat-rick. She can be contacted at 704-827-3788. Infor-mation is available on line at http://www.shininghopefarms.org. Check it out!!

Baby Shower Please join us for a drop-in Baby Shower

Honoring Katie Lamm on Sunday, March 9th,

From 2:00-4:00 p.m. in the FLC. Katie is having a baby boy and

Is registered at Target. All ladies of the church are invited to come

And share in this special time. If you have any questions, please see Anita Hallman, Martha Coltharp or

Amy Overbay.

Congratulations to our 2014

Confirmation Class:

Alyse Ballard

Courtney Beatty Marissa Beatty Leah Carpenter Rory Moore Sadie Matzke Abby Towe

The Confirmation Class will be joining the Fellowship of New Covenant on Sunday, March 23rd, at the 9:00 a.m. service.

They will also be recognized at the 11:00 a.m. service.

Rev. Randy Wall Pastor

At New Covenant Sunday through Thursday

Linda Stroup Church Secretary

At New Covenant Monday through Thursday

Todd Guest Director of Youth Ministry

Janet Hinson Director of Music

At New Covenant Wednesday and Sunday

Church Office Hours

Monday — Thursday

8:00 AM—3:00 PM

704-827-4468

newcovenantumc@bellsouth.net

Church Staff Ministry Team

The Body o f Chr i s t :

Go ing in Fa i th, Growing in Lov e , and S e rv ing Othe r s

14514 Lucia-Riverbend Hwy. Mt. Holly, NC 28120 Phone: 704-827-4468 Fax: 704-827-9083

NEW COVENANT UNITED

METHODIST CHURCH