theConnectionF I R S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H C A R Y

May 29, 2015

Worship:

Sunday Sanctuary: 8:25, 9:45, & 11:05 a.m.

Sunday Celebration: 11:11 a.m.

117 South Academy Street Cary, NC 27511

Sunday 1st on Chatham: 9:45 a.m.

The Cary, 122 E. Chatham Street, Cary, NC 27511

office: (919) 467-1861

pastor on call: (919) 467-1862

firstcary.com

Lori Barmer Communications Coordinator

If you have a testimony to share, we would love to

hear from you! Please email lbarmer@fumc-cary.org or call the church office.

“O LORD, let my soul rise up to meet you as the day

rises to meet the sun.”

Sharing the heartof Christ from the

heart of Cary.

Servant Heart

If you attended the May United Methodist Men’s breakfast, then you know Bob Warner is passionate about trains. It started when he was a young boy and continues today,

as he dons his hat and vest and serves as a train host on the Amtrak trains, The Piedmont and The Carolinian.What you may not know is his passion for First UMC Cary. Son of a United Methodist minister, Bob, and his wife, Marilyn, moved to Cary from Toledo, Ohio in 1972 because of his job with IBM. A few months later, they became members of First UMC Cary, and Bob found lots of ways to serve. He said, “I’ve actually been involved in the church finances (with a variety of titles) since 1973. Before the church got computers, I used to run financial reports at a business in downtown Raleigh.” Lisa Varani, our assistant treasurer, said, “Bob has been our treasurer for close to 40 years. I have worked with Bob in various capacities on the Finance Committee over the last 10-plus years. I can always count on him to know the history of why decisions were made; his memory is far more reliable than mine! He has seen many cycles of highs and lows with respect to the church’s financial state, so he is always able to keep the long-term perspective in mind and not get rattled. For the last several years, we’ve met for lunch every month to catch up and review the financial reports. He comes out to Durham where I work and, thanks to his love for good food, I think we’ve eaten at every restaurant in downtown Durham!”Bob can be seen Sunday mornings, sometimes in the sound booth or playing the timpani with the choir and worship orchestra. Christy Farrior, our organist and associate music director had this to say about Bob: “One of my greatest blessings while working at First UMC Cary has been the opportunity to get to know Bob Warner. Having worked with Bob through his service at this church as a sound technician for worship services and his musical contributions as a fine percussionist, I have observed and experienced his gentle, servant spirit. I have been touched and inspired by his faithfulness to God’s service, his humility, and his desire to help. Not only has he always been willing to help when asked, but he has sought ways to help. In addition, Bob’s Christ-like spirit and humble walk with the Lord have been consistent through whatever circumstances he has encountered. When I review the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5, I can truly say, ‘Get to know Bob Warner and you will see the fruits of the Spirit personified.’ His love for the Lord and God’s people are expressed beautifully through his huge servant heart—daily.”Bob has served in so many ways for so many years, that when you see it altogether, it’s quite impressive. He is, or has been, Treasurer, Chair of Stewardship, Chair of Trustees, member of Building Committee, Chair of MCC (Methodist Children’s Center) Board, lead manager of Carter-Finley concession stand, timpani player, churchbell ringer, PA operator, Church Historian, member of Columbarium Committee, TUG (Take Us Green), JOY (Just Older Youth) Council, Computer Committee, UMM (United Methodist Men) Treasurer, UMM newsletter editor, leader of his Sunday school class, member of Long Range Planning Committee and Endowment Committee. We can see why his daughter, Jessica Trapp, said, “Growing up, I just remember how hard Dad has worked and his commitment to his church.” First UMC Cary is greatly blessed that Bob Warner is a part of our church family. – Lori Barmer, Communications Coordinator

Bob Warner with grandson Evan, ringing the bell after worship

Sanctuary CareIt’s true that a church is much more than brick and mortar, but the physical space in which we come together as a community in Christ is special. We call it “God’s House” and, as such, it deserves our most reverent respect.A sanctuary, in its original meaning, is a sacred place, such as a shrine, a church, temple, or mosque. By the use of such places as safe havens, the term has come to be used for any place of safety. Fortunately, First UMC Cary has a dedicated team of servants who make sure our house of worship is truly a definitive sanctuary.

Joyce Moxley shared, “I have been doing sanctuary care for just a couple years or so and love doing it. I started doing it because I wanted to serve in some way and knew there was a need. Now I find that when I am there picking up leftover papers, straightening hymnals, refilling pew supplies or just sharpening pencils, I experience a special spiritual time and it lifts me up. The sanctuary is usually empty and quiet so I often pray or find myself just talking to Jesus. The tasks might seem small and mundane but it truly lifts me up just to be there with the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, as a bonus, I might have the pleasure of hearing Christy, or members of a choir, practicing music for a Sunday service; certainly a blessing for me!” That is a sentiment I heard over and over again. Sydna Martin said, “This is a way to serve our church, and hopefully make a neat, worshipful atmosphere for Sunday Worship. If we are there at just the right moment, we sometimes get to listen to Christy play the organ. That is a worship service in itself.”

Joyce continued, “Also, I believe to honor God we should keep His church neat and in order and I am happy to be a part of that effort. I think too, that our church family likes to come into worship and see the pews are neat and tidy on Sunday mornings or for special events and, of course, it is more welcoming to guests.”“I have only been doing Sanctuary Care for about a year,” said Paula Allen, “and I like contributing to the service as well as enjoy the solitude of being in the sanctuary while I’m working.” Brenda Stutts agreed, saying, “The time alone in the sanctuary allows me to go to the Lord in prayer while I’m working. It’s always an added bonus if Christy or David happen to be practicing.” Jeanette Bell said, “I enjoy doing just a little bit of service to help make worship a pleasant experience for everyone on Sunday mornings. It takes me about two hours to cover the complete sanctuary. I make sure that the hymnals and attendance pads are in place and that pencils are sharpened and that the offering envelopes and other information are in the pew racks. It is fun to see how the worshipers decide that all of those books should be put back in the hymn racks! It is a small service but it helps keep things in order.”Debbie Wagner said, “I am semi-retired and felt that this was a way to give back to the church.”Carol Poythress said she felt called to serve in a behind the scenes kind of way about five years ago and that Sanctuary Care has been a good fit. “I was teamed up with sweet Francis Keener and Kay Mann, they were willing to share their time with me. I love doing something for God, and the church and yet it’s simple enough and fills a spiritual need.”“I find it very peaceful and rewarding to work in such a beautiful place,” said Nina McSherry. “Sometimes there are surprises in the pews, especially under the cushions. The most joyful time is when Christy and David are practicing their music together. It is a joy to come to 8:25 on Sunday morning and see the work we have done. Hoping to have many more years of working behind the scenes with Sanctuary Care.” – Lori Barmer, Communications Coordinator

Summer ReadingRecent additions to our library’s collection include these books:

For Such a Time as This: Young Adults on the Future of the Church edited by Kathryn Mary Lohre. Twelve young adults share an invigorating, new, and timely word on issues such as interfaith relations, immigration, peace, and justice. The book includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter and invites readers to intergenerational dialogue — moving toward the future together. [253 For]

From Times Square to Timbuktu: The Post-Christian West Meets the Non-Western Church by Wesley Granberg-Michaelson. Jim Wallis states: “This is the most important book anyone can read about the future of the church … Global Christianity is being transformed, from the bottom up, from South to North, and Wes Granberg-Michaelson understands how that will and should change the

Western churches that will no longer be the dominant forces in the body of Christ.” [270 Gra] – The Library Committee

MCC Bike RodeoOn May 19, the Methodist Children’s Center got together with the Town of Cary School Resource Team and hosted a “Bike Rodeo!” MCC director, Alicia Shelton, said, “This program is designed to instill the importance of bike safety in children. A big lesson was always looking both ways when crossing the street. The instructors discussed keeping your bike in good working order: tires full of air, seat at the proper height, handle bars secure, etc.

“We discussed how to stop and be aware of others around us. The children practiced going through an obstacle course and at the end they all got a bike license with their photo on it. This was a great program and a big hit with children and parents!”

Creation CarePlastic. It can be useful in a variety of ways. But it is increasingly an environmental hazard due to lack of awareness and corporate greed. As Christians, God’s creation is our gift and our responsibility. Now is not the time to be complacent about creation care. The statistics in the article below explain.

“Every day, Americans go through 50 million plastic water bottles. And it takes more than 17 million barrels of oil to meet our demand for bottled water since most plastics are derived from petroleum. That’s enough energy to fuel more than a million cars and power nearly 200,000 homes every year. Never mind how much oil used to transport plastic bottles from one part of the country to another.

“In spite of active recycling programs, only about 23 percent of these bottles end up being re-used. So, what’s the alternative?

Tap water in a reusable bottle.

“‘We live in a country where most households have clean drinkable water, and we don’t need plastic bottled water,’ said Julie Schutten, an associate professor of communication and environmental cultural studies at Northern Arizona University. ‘We did just fine 25 years ago before water was a bottled commodity. Besides, much of the water sold to us in plastic bottles is less regulated than water from the tap in many US homes.’”

(Excerpts reprinted from Hannah Ellsbury’s article “Americans Trying to Wean Themselves Off the Bottle (Water Bottle, That Is)” published April 9, 2015, www.banthebottle.net. )

“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for God has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers.” Psalm 24:1-2 – The Creation Care Team

Fitness. Fellowship. Faith.... put them together and you have a recipe for overall good health. Workouts are held outdoors, are free and open to all men, regardless of fitness level, do not require equipment or prior training. Each 45-minute workout concludes with a Circle of Trust. There is an F3 group that meets in the First UMC Cary parking lot on Thursdays at 5:45am. There are also opportunities to meet at various locations throughout Cary each day of the week.

Whatever your fitness goals are, every man is challenged during every workout, yet no one is left behind. The groups are non-judgmental, inclusive and supportive. F3 is an opportunity for men to improve physical health, feel fulfilled socially and grow in faith. Jeff Lawrence and Tom Hayes are seasoned F3 participants and make it to as many workouts they can during the week. For Jeff, the first F (Fitness), initially drew him in, however, it was the Fellowship that kept him coming back. He said the “camaraderie that comes from the shared experience of working out together” was most important to him. He also feels that “the fact that each workout is punctuated with a Faith component helps solidify why we are there. It helps us to be part of a community of men who care about each other, pray for each other, and hold each other accountable. It’s so much easier to push yourself physically surrounded by that sense of belonging. As it turns out, Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith are intertwined. I came out to F3 for one, but have gotten more in return. It has

made me a better, healthier person physically, emotionally, and spiritually.” Tom feels better than he has ever felt in his life and even seeks out F3 sites when he travels outside NC.

The F3 philosophy fits perfectly with the goals and purpose of Health Ministries at First UMC Cary. If you are interested in learning more about F3, contact Tom at hillth@gmail.com or Jeff at wolfbuff2@yahoo.com. You may also visit the website at www.f3nation.com.

What about the ladies? FiA, Females in Action is a branch of F3 designed to focus on becoming healthier and stronger in all areas of life. If you are interested in being a part of a group at First UMC Cary, contact Christin Simpson at csimpson519@gmail.com.

Try this recipe, you might just get hooked and feel better than ever! – Christin Simpson, Health Ministries Chair

United Methodist Men’s June BreakfastChad Neal will be our speaker in June. Chad is a leader of a local F3 group. Chad’s faith has inspired him to travel on a mission trip to Kenya. Come to hear him explain how he got involved with F3 and why he wants to lead others to it.

Please make reservations for this program by either calling the church office at 919-467-1861, or registering at the church website. Bring the whole family at 8:00am on June 13 for the Best Breakfast in Town for $5.00!

Pastors On-Call Your pastors continue to seek ways to provide you with quality pastoral care while balancing the other demands of ministry. In an effort to be available, we have an “on-call” system. If you need to reach a pastor in an emergency situation, you may call (919) 467-1862 to reach the on-call pastor for that week. There is also an option to dial this line directly when calling the church office. When you call this number, the pastor on call for the week will respond as soon as possible. Please be mindful when calling this number, as it is for true emergencies only. This includes a death, sudden critical hospitalization of a member, or other such situations. Pastoral care for non-emergencies, such as scheduled hospitalizations, can be arranged through the front office.

Favorite ScriptureHebrews 12:1-2 (nrsv) Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Church Pictorial Directory Sign-upsHave you signed up to have your picture taken for the printed and online pictorial directory? We begin this Tuesday! See dates and times below:

June 2-5 2:00 - 9:00pmJune 6 10:00am -5:00pmJune 16-19 2:00 - 9:00pmJune 20 10:00am - 5:00pm

To sign up, visit our website or call the church office at 919-467-1861. We hope everyone can find a date and time that works for them to come in to be photographed for our new directory!

Music and Creative Arts CampAre you looking for a half-day camp this summer? Check out the Music and Creative Arts Camp here at First UMC Cary June 22-26.

Children who will be rising second through sixth graders are welcome! Last day to register is June 1. Contact pcook@fumc-cary.org if you have questions. Visit firstcary.com and click on the Registration button in the middle of the home page to sign up!

MCC Job OpeningMethodist Children’s Center is currently accepting applications for a Lead Teacher for an Older Two’s classroom. The applicant must have their NC Teaching Credential, previously worked with children, be energetic and nurturing and have a love for Christ. The position is Monday - Thursday 9:00am-12:30pm.

Visit http://firstcary.com/mcc/ to obtain a copy of an application and to review the complete job description. Return completed applications and resumes to Alicia Shelton, Director of MCC at ashelton@fumc-cary.org by Friday June 5, 2015. JOY Annual PicnicThe Just Older Youth Annual Picnic this year will be held on June 18. Please bring either a salad or a dessert to the Buehler Shelter in Bond Park. Drinks will be provided. We will begin at 11:30am and will stay until we have cleaned our plates! Visit firstcary.com and click on the Registration button in the middle of the home page to sign up. Music Registration for Fall 2015Adults, youth and children, please register for handbell, vocal and instrumental choirs by June 30. Visit firstcary.com and click on the Registration button in the middle of the home page to sign up. Please contact Karen Schreiner with questions.

Fuego Loco Middle School Boys GroupOn Saturday June 6, 9:00am to 12:00pm, the First UMC Cary middle schools boys group, Fuego Loco, will be hosting a lawn mower maintenance workshop. We are asking the boys and their dads to bring their mower to behind the log cabin for an oil change, blade sharpening, sparkplug change and air cleaner cleaning event. If you don’t have a mower, or Dad can’t make it, please come anyway. Everyone will be getting their hands dirty! If you bring your mower, we do ask that you bring your own oil and spark plug. The theme will be based on Proverbs 27:17. This event will happen, rain or shine! We will have a canopy to work under.

This is mower maintenance, not repair. We will test that the mower starts before we work on it. If the mower doesn’t start before we begin our work, there is a chance it won’t start after we do our work! We will have bottles of cold water for everyone. For more information, you may contact Bob Reichel unclebob@huckleberrytrailfarm.com. Alice Roosevelt Longworth & Ice Cream SocialRescheduled for July 23 at 2:00pm in room 200.Many presidential daughters have spent their teenage years in the White House, but none is more interesting than Alice Roosevelt. Come and spend an afternoon eating delicious ice cream and hearing of her adventures and misadventures! Please visit firstcary.com to sign up. Charge Conference & Church Council UpdateOur called Charge Conference was held on Thursday, May 21, 2015. The purposes of the Charge Conference were to elect church officers for 2015-2016 and set pastoral compensation for our new Pastor of Senior Adult Ministry. After the Charge Conference, the Church Council heard updates from Finance, Trustees, and Staff Parish and had holy conversation on a proposed Hispanic Ministry Plan and proposed changes to First UMC Cary’s Employee Handbook. The church council will discern these items at our August 8 meeting. For all Church Council meeting materials, updates, and news please visit http://firstcary.com/category/church-council/. If you have any questions, please contact Christine Hildebrand at childebrand@fumc-cary.org or at 919-459-4691.

GriefShare Offers Hope and HealingGriefShare is a 13-week support group study that offers hope and healing during times of loss. Our current session will end on June 18, and we will have a short break in the summer and resume on September 3, with a projected completion date of December 17 for that session in room 125 from 7:00 to 9:00pm. You may register by calling 919-467-1861 or at firstcary.com. (Click on the Registration button in the middle of the home page). Streetscape Improvements Along S. Academy Street and Dry Avenue The Town of Cary has identified South Academy Street as a “signature street” critical to the successful redevelopment of downtown Cary. The view and ambiance of South Academy Street is often cited as the element that makes downtown Cary unique. The Town hopes to capitalize on that ambiance by making South Academy even more attractive to residents and visitors as a place to hold downtown festivals, events, concerts and other activities to support downtown businesses and complement the activities of the new Cary Arts Center. In addition to allowing South Academy to be better utilized for special events, the improvements would have other benefits for traffic movement, traffic calming, aesthetics, and pedestrian and handicapped accessibility and comfort.This project contributes to the overall quality of life in Cary by:•Completing a key element of the Town’s strategy to

revitalize Downtown Cary•Furthering the downtown area as the cultural center

of Cary•Improving pedestrian mobility in the downtown area•Enhancing and preserving the Downtown Cary

Historic District•Potentially spurring new private investment in

downtown CaryVisit http://www.townofcary.org/Departments/fdts/streetsandsidewalks/streetprojects/streetscape-sacademydry.htm for information and updates.

Mentor Moms Needed Have you ever considered mentoring young moms through their motherhood journey as they grow closer to the Lord? If so, we have a perfect opportunity for you! Our MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group is looking for Mentor Moms! We meet twice a month from September-May at First UMC Cary. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Beth and Jamie at fumccmops1@yahoo.com. Rough Cut Men Event: Capital District UMM Saturday, June 6, 9:00am to 4:00pm with lunch at 12:00pmPresentation by David Dusek, president and founder of Rough Cut Men, held at 3MC-Methodist Men’s Ministry Center, 676 Community Drive, Goldsboro, NC. The cost is $35.00, checks payable to CDUMM. Mail to Wally Mills, 2401 Diamondhitch Trail, Raleigh, NC 27615. Contact Wally at 919-868-3338 or wally@stwcorp.com with questions. Visit roughcutmen.org for more information.

WORSHIP ATTENDANCE MAY 17 MAY 24SANCTUARY: 718 835CELEBRATION: 70 1081st ON CHATHAM 100 96TOTAL: 880 1,039