MAY 2017 Page 1

“Every member a ‘Minister’”

The First Methogram Making Disciples for Jesus Christ through Love and Service!

MAY 2017

Dear Friends, Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! I am still basking in the light of our wonderful Holy Week and Easter services and hope those opportunities for worship were a blessing to you and your family as well. It was exciting to welcome 431 people to our Easter Sunday morning worship with over 79 additional people joining us online (literally from around the nation and the world), bringing our worship total to 509! I want to give special thanks to our volunteer tech team here at First Church who spend hours each week editing and uploading our worship videos to our website and who also helped to livestream all our special Holy Week services this year. During the month of May, I hope you will come and bring a friend as we journey together in this new series titled “Half Truths.” I am sure you have heard these expressions, and many of us, including myself, have probably said some of them. We often assume that they come from Scripture, but the whole truth is that most of us have never examined them closely in the light of God’s Word. Here are a few of these sayings we will be reflecting on together over the coming weeks:

• May 7—“God helps those who help themselves.” • May 14—“God won’t give you more than you can handle.” • May 21—“God said it, I believe it, that settles it.” • May 28—“Love the sinner, hate the sin.”

As we move from April’s late flurry of showers toward the promise of May flowers, I hope you and your family will take time each week to get outside and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. Life and signs of Easter grace and beauty are all around us. And as each Sunday comes rolling around, I hope to see you and your family join us as we gather together as the Body of Christ to give thanks for God who has conquered sin, death, and the grave! Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Worshiping, connecting, serving, and giving with you in Jesus’ name,

Pastor Kevin

FUMC-Graham—303 N. Main Street Graham, NC 27253 336/226-4343

Pastor—G. Kevin Baker

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Worship

Evangelism Message:

Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. —Proverbs 16: 3

True or false:

1. Everything happens for a reason.

2. God helps those who help themselves.

3. God won’t give you more than you can handle.

4. God said it, I believe it, that settles it.

5. Love the sinner, hate the sin.

All true? Not so fast. We have all heard these

sayings, and many of us have said them and

repeated them. For six weeks (April 23-May 28),

we are going to examine them together in light

of Scripture. Hope to see you for worship at 9AM

or 11AM!

Want to go deeper during Pastor Kevin's sermon series? Pick up a copy of Adam Hamilton's book Half Truths in the coffeeshop or sanctuary breezeway for a reduced cost of $10.

HELP WANTED: Our transportation ministry needs drivers to transport worshipers to and from church on Sunday mornings in our 15-passenger van. If you are interested, please contact our Transportation Ministry Coordinator Bill Bryant (336/260-2836, bfbryant52@hotmail.com).

Reflections After The Well

If you attend the 9am Well service on Sunday mornings and would like to continue discussing Pastor Kevin’s message, please consider joining the Reflections group. Reflections After The Well meets each Sunday morning after the 9am service in Room 114. Grab a cup of coffee and join Lindy Halverson to go deeper into the message.

MAY 2017 Page 3

“Every member a ‘Minister’”

Connect MAY DATES

YOUNG IN HEART

Regular Meeting Tuesday, May 2

10:30am Stafford Hall (Rm. 125)

Speaker: Dr. Samuel C. Powell, speaking on historic flags

Adult Game Day Wednesday, May 10

1-4pm Stafford Hall (Rm. 125)

Bring your favorite snack!

Penny Augustine Barbara Lowe

Bill Barbee Chris Martin

Doug and Clara Bayliff Pam McDonald

Elvin and Anne Briggs Worth McPherson

Howell Brown, III Nell Mooney

Jane Bryan Revonda Barnwell Mosher

Ty Bunn Jeanne Phillips

Curtis Clapp Rev. Dennis Ricks

Jackie England Mary Jane Salter

Alma Euliss John Schweitzer

Michael Few Mike Smith

Tommy Garner Susan Stapleton

John Hancock Janice Stutts

Betty Hardt Virginia Sykes

Frances Heath Clyde and Marie Ward

Brenda Hudson Max Way

Elizabeth King Vivian Williamson

Jeff Krummel Sue Willson

Carolyn Lapham Dillard and JoAnn Witherow

In Our Thoughts and Prayers

2017 Confirmation Program Please be in prayer for our confirmands and their mentors as they journey together over the next several months. The following young persons will

be exploring their faith and studying what it means to be a faithful member of the church. Listed with each confirmand is his/her adult mentor.

Elizabeth Barbee—Kay Ferguson Grace Barnhouse—Carol Steele Landon Koon—Jim Albright Charlotte Parks—Laura Albright Chelsea Quinn—Margaret Skulnik Sam Royal—Morgan Whitney

Confirmation Sunday will be held on Sunday, June 4.

5.1 Chris Lowe 5.2 Nell Mooney 5.5 Katie Hook 5.5 Alex Cook 5.7 Kevin Ingold 5.7 Virginia Sykes 5.7 Lucas Cameron 5.7 Sarah Hook 5.9 Will Yoder 5.9 Lillie Robbins 5.11 Kenny Linens 5.11 Becky Payne 5.12 Ken Hall 5.12 Jeff Rayle 5.12 Keileigh Blackwell 5.13 Maiya Woody 5.14 Craig Brantley 5.14 Stephen Whittemore 5.14 Jordan Benton 5.15 Ben Barnhill 5.16 Rhonda Lee 5.17 Jim Gibson 5.18 Cody Woody 5.18 Sarah McLeod 5.19 Dylan Bowes

5.19 Rose Folks 5.19 Dina High 5.20 Jeff Wood 5.22 Lydia Linens 5.22 Dennis Ricks 5.22 Lydia Linens 5.23 Bill Bradshaw 5.23 Harriett Wisse 5.23 Jackson Brink 5.24 Ethan Fogleman 5.24 Marilyn Perkey 5.24 Emma Lou Rinaldi 5.24 Eva Vincent 5.25 Melinda Whittemore 5.25 Victoria Pryor 5.26 Gavin Lee Critcher 5.26 Dave Huffines 5.27 Kim Fulkerson 5.27 Ashlyn Long 5.28 Martin Perkey 5.28 Joseph Walker 5.29 Milton Clapp 5.30 Alexandra Taylor 5.31 Doris Riley 5.31 Howard James

’

Page 4 “Every member a ‘Minister’” MAY 2017

MAY

YOUTH EVENTS

Looking ahead: Robeson County Mission

Trip—July 23-30, 2017

5.7 Sun.. 2-6pm

Corridor District Chicken

Pickin’, Camp Chestnut Ridge

$7

Meet at church at 1:30pm;

Return by 6pm

See adjacent article

5.13 Sat.

5-7pm

(Sports)

7pm-?

(Movie)

Sports & Big-Screen Movie

Night

South Graham Park and Youth

Commons

5.14 Sun. No meeting. Happy Mother’s

Day!

5.20 Sat. 9am-

6pm Summit Hike. Meet at church.

5.21 Sun.. 5-6:30pm Regular meeting

5.28 Sun. 5-6:30pm Regular meeting

Corridor District Youth Gathering

Sunday, May 7

Camp Chestnut Ridge

2-6pm (Leave from church at

1:30pm)

Cost: $7 per person

Enjoy worship, hiking, canoeing,

volleyball, cotton candy, snowcones,

basketball, and lots of fellowship!

Barbecue Chicken Dinner

will be provided!

’ 2017!

GRADUATION SUNDAY! We will recognize our high school seniors and college graduates Sunday, June 11 at the 11am service. High school seniors, please

contact Paul Abbott (youth@fumcgraham-nc.org), and college graduates, please contact Brian Yoder (brian@fumcgraham-nc.org)

RIGHT AWAY if you wish to be included in the service. Church scholarships will also be awarded at this time.

FUMC Playschool will be offering two three-week-long Bible summer camp experiences for preschool children ages 2-5. E-mail Faye Waddell (playschool@fumcgraham-nc.org) if you have any questions or would like to enroll.

BOUNCING AROUND! On Sunday, June 4, children in kindergarten through 5th grade will take a trip to Airbound Trampoline Park in Greensboro. Children are asked to meet in Stafford Hall at 2pm and bring with them their church permission form and $2 for gripper socks. Admission to the park will be covered by the church. Parents are asked to also fill out the online waiver form for their child at airboundtrampolinepark.com/greensboro prior to the trip . We will return to the church by 5pm.

Parents are welcome to jump with their children for a cost of $12 (includes gripper socks). Adults must also fill out the online waiver form. Seats are limited on the church bus, so please let Brian (brian@fumcgraham-nc.org) know how many from your family will be attending by Sunday, May 28.

Chicken Pickin’ 2017!

Y’all

Come!

MAY 2017 Page 5

“Every member a ‘Minister’”

Serve

LIBRARY LOWDOWN FOR MAY—UMW READING PROGRAM

Announcing the 10th Annual Children and Youth FUMC-G Reading Program for 2017

Sponsored by the United Methodist Women of First UMC Graham , NC

The United Methodist Women are once again sponsoring the Reading Program for 2017. We are encouraging our CHILDREN AND YOUTH ages 2-18 to read books from our FUMC library. The library has many books for children and youth and a computerized checkout system that is easy to use. Drop by our library any time to see this children and youth section for yourself.

Here is how this year’s reading program works:

Read as many books as you can from the FUMC Library* between MAY 1 and JULY 29, 2017. (No fewer than 5, but try to read 7, 10, 15, or more!)

Books may be read to children ages 2-6.

List all of the books you read on the reporting form (available in the library or by down-loading from the E-News) and return the completed form to Carol Steele, Program Resource Coordinator for FUMC UMW no later than Sunday, July 30, 2017. You may also leave the form in the marked plastic tray in the church library.

Each child who reads and turns in a form by the reporting date will receive a READING CERTIFICATE from FUMC and a Barnes and Noble GIFTCARD on Promotion Sunday in August 2017 during the worship service.

*Some Children and Youth Books in the FUMC library are also on the NC Conference UMW Reading

Program. These books are specially marked with blue tape on the spine, so you will be able to identify them. You will receive special recognition for reading at least 5 of these specially marked books.

Page 6 “Every member a ‘Minister’” MAY 2017

Vacation Bible School: Maker Fun Factory In this year’s Vacation Bible School, children will learn that they were created by God and built for a purpose in Maker Fun Factory! VBS will be held July 10-13 from 6:30-8:40pm nightly with a special Friday night celebration on July 14.

A list of jobs and their descriptions is below for you to consider where you might be able to help. A sign-up sheet will be posted in the church at the beginning of May. Also, please be in prayer for this ministry. If you are able to help, or have any questions, please contact Jennifer Easter or Leigh Hayes.

Crew Leader: Meet the children in your crew each night. Take attendance and escort your group from one activity to the next.

Crew Leader Helper: Assist the crew leader as needed. Keep the children quiet and focused, and assist with activities as needed.

Game Makers Coordinator and Helper: Lead the children in games related to the Bible story of the night; explain how it relates to the story.

Imagination Station Coordinator and Helper: Help the children discover the Bible point in crazy ways using sciency-fun gizmos. This is high-energy fun to keep the children engaged.

KidVid Cinema Coordinator and Helper: Show a short DVD to each crew and lead a discussion afterwards relating it to the Bible theme.

Bible Discovery: One person per night presents the Bible story to each crew by role play. (Script provided.)

Preschool Helpers: Assist the coordinator with the preschoolers. Activities include helping with crafts, handing out snacks, etc.

Hall Monitor/Bell Ringer: Patrol the hallways for wandering children; collect attendance sheets from crew leaders; ring bell at appointed times to signal the end of each activity.

Registration Help: (Monday night only) Register children and take them to their designated crew.

Music Helper: Help Mr. Brian with the projector during music time by changing the songs during the opening and closing nightly.

Decorating Committee: Help set up VBS props and decorate hallways on Sunday before VBS.

Photographer: Take pictures nightly, and make DVD with VBS music for Friday night program.

Decorations Removal: Friday night after our VBS program, help take down decorations and props and place in Fellowship Hall for the next church to pick up.

MAY 2017 Page 7

“Every member a ‘Minister’”

Give Memorials

In Memory Of

Louise Rambeau by Donald and

Penny Hardie

Clara Auman by Donald and

Penny Hardie

Sarah Bell Williams by Donald

and Penny Hardie

Sarah Bell Williams by Rev. Dennis and Lydia Ricks

Sarah Bell Williams by Connie Saunders

Sarah Bell Williams by Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Egbert

Sarah Bell Williams by Young In Heart

Marcelle Bulla by Donald and Penny Hardie

Marcelle Bulla by Rev. Dennis and Lydia Ricks

Joan Frazier by Julia Howard

Terrell Lamb by Alamance County War Memorial Committee

Thank you to all the youth leaders and youth who worked on the new Youth Commons meeting space. Special thanks to Reid Allshouse, George and Tammy McGonagle, Mike Beaver, and Paul Abbott.

Special thank you to Bill Bradshaw for keeping the attendance pads complete. Bill has been our usher coordinator for over 25 years!

Hello! I am a teacher at South Graham, and I want to thank you so much for all of the things that you have done for us here at this school. It has been great. Thank you for the subscription to the School Closet. I just went again for my third time and got a lot of things for my special education classroom. I really appreciate you giving to this program.

—Barbara Swank

Ladies of My Church,

Thank you so much for the wonderful meal you provided my family after Mother’s service. It was so nice to sit with my family at church and remember Mother. I have done your job before, and I know what you did before and after the meal. My mother did the same thing and taught me how to remember families.

Much love, Allene Massengill (daughter of Sarah Bell Williams)

UMW Mission Focus for May WOMEN’S SHELTER

Please consider donating:

• New panties

• Feminine products

• New washcloths and towels

• Toilet tissue Leave items on couch in church office (Rm. 113), or give directly to Jeanne Owen.

Refugee Welcome Kits

Our UMW is collecting Refugee Welcome Kits for Church Women United. Deliver these to Jeanne Owen by July 1, 2017.

Please consider putting together any of the following kits:

Personal Hygiene Kit

• Bath towel

• Washcloth

• Nail clippers

• Comb

• Deodorant

• Feminine products

• Lotion

• Razors

• Shaving cream Bathroom Kit

• Toilet paper

• Shampoo

• Soap

• Hand soap

• Shower curtain

• Shower curtain rings

• Floor mat

• Hand towel

• Small trash bin

Cleaning Kit

• All-purpose cleaner

• Paper towels (4 or 6 pack)

• Sponges

• Cleaning rags

• Toilet cleaner

• Trash bags

• Light bulbs

• Mop

• Broom

• Dustpan

• Laundry soap

• Dish soap

• Kitchen trash bin Twin Bed Kit

• Pillowcases (2)

• Pillows (2)

• Twin flat sheet

• Twin fitted sheet

• Twin blanket

Most items can be purchased for $1 at a dollar store. Put items into a zippered pillowcase or medium-sized tote bag and label with the type of kit.

Page 8 “Every member a ‘Minister’” MAY 2017

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1

10am Circle 2

2pm Circle 1

2pm Circle 3

6:30pm Alamance Chorale rehearsal

2 10:30am Young In Heart

4:30pm Exchange Club Project

7pm Boy Scouts

7pm Cub Scouts

3

5:30pm Confirmation

6:30pm Covenant Bible Study

6:30pm Handbells

7pm Crochet

7:30 Choir

4 8:15am Thurs. Prayer Breakfast

7pm Praise Team

5

6

7 7am Men’s Breakfast

1:30 Corridor District Youth Chicken Pickin’

3pm Praise Kids

5pm First Place

8 6:30pm Ala-mance Chorale rehearsal

7pm Friendship Circle

9 4:30pm Exchange Club Project

7pm Board of Directors

7pm Boy Scouts

7pm Cub Scouts

10

9:30 Library Ministry Team

1pm Young In Heart Fun Day

5:30pm Confirmation

6:30pm Covenant Bible Study

6:30pm Handbells

7pm Crochet

6:30pm Choir

11 8:15am Thurs. Prayer Breakfast

7pm Praise Team

12 4pm Wedding rehearsal

13 2:30pm Wed-ding and reception

5pm Youth Sports and Movie Night

14 Mother’s Day/ “Meet and Greet”

5pm First Place

15

16 4:30pm Exchange Club Project

6pm Alamance Chorale Spring Concert and Reception

7pm Finance Committee

7pm Boy Scouts

7pm Cub Scouts

17

5:30pm Confirmation Class

6:30pm Covenant Bible Study

6:30pm Handbells

7pm Crochet

7:30pm Choir

18 8:15am Thurs. Prayer Breakfast

7pm Praise Team

19

9am-4pm County Employees Blood Drive

20 9am UMW Corridor Dis-trict Day Apart

9am Youth Summit Hike

21UMW Mission

Recognition Sunday

2pm Evangelism Committee

5pm First Place

5pm Youth

22

23 4:30 Exchange Club Project

7pm Boy Scouts

7pm Cub Scouts

24 5:30pm Confirma-tion Class

6:30pm Handbells

7pm Crochet

7:30pm Choir

25 8:15am Thurs. Prayer Breakfast

7pm Praise Team

26

27

28

5pm First Place

5pm Youth

29 Memorial Day

6:30pm Missions Committee

30 4:30 Exchange Club Project

7pm Boy Scouts

7pm Cub Scouts

31 6:30pm Hand-bells

7pm Crochet

7:30pm Choir

The First Methogram—(USPS 715-740) Periodicals Postage Paid at Published Monthly by Graham, North Carolina 27253 First United Methodist Church 303 N. Main Street Postmaster: Send Address Changes to: Graham, North Carolina 27253 The First Methogram 303 N. Main Street Graham, North Carolina 27253 WE THANK GOD FOR:

SUNDAY SCHEDULE: The Well Service 9am, Sunday School: 10am, Traditional Worship Service: 11am

Confirmation Class Retreat Lake Junaluska

Retreat