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A Pastoral word from Sydnor

Mar.1 Ben Succop Lynn Sprinkle Mary Simpson Mar. 2 Kay Childres Ben Brittain Molly Messenheimer Mar. 3 Patsy Brown Camm Bennett Mar. 4 Viola Brandon Lauren Powell Mar. 5 Patsy Bowers Mar. 8 Waits Gordon Linda Watson Mar. 9 Amalie Hinson Morgan Steinert Sam Rosebrock Mar. 10 Janet Greene Mar. 12 Eleanor Butler Kelsey Stephens Mar. 13 Elizabeth Brown Mar. 14 Charlie Burleson Mar. 15 Tucker Carter Mar. 19 Donna Lytle Landon Browning Mar. 20 Floye Hood Mar. 21 Beatrice Breeden

Mar. 22 Eloise Sanderfood Lea Ann Webb Sue Johnson Randy Sprinkle Chris Brittain Mar. 23 Roberta Hall Nelson Poole Mar. 24 Hunter McCombs Mike Foust Ron Mulwee Tyra Jones Hunter McCombs Kate Anne Clark Mar. 25 Steve Settlemyer Mar. 26 Mo Schwind Mar. 27 Sharlene Hipple Jean Garrison Edward Fleming Mar. 28 Marty Lowder Kim Baker Mar. 29 Larry Fleming Lisa Stokes Mark Bennett Mar. 30 Kathryn Shoemaker Bobby Kirksey Andrews Bowers Mar. 31 Betty Connelly Dick Farr

BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS

The 40 days of Lent this year are especially meaningful for me. I’m not only preparing for Easter but I’m also preparing for a year’s deployment in Afghanistan! Folks have asked me how I feel about my mobilization—and I guess I’d have to be crazy not to feel some apprehension about entering into a war zone. What is really tough, though, is the prospect of leaving my family for such a length of time, especially while my mother is battling cancer. But today, as I was checking in with my new unit—EOD Group 2 out of Little Creek, VA—I met a young man who introduced himself as the Supply Officer who will be deploying with me. Suddenly, I had a face to go with the orders the Navy has given me. This young Lieutenant is leaving home and family to do a difficult job in a far away land. I realized that I’m going to be his Chaplain and understood again what a privilege that is. I only pray that God will strengthen me so that I can be a faithful and effective Chaplain for the brave young men and women I will be serving. I’m thankful that as I face this challenge, I have the assurance that I’m not alone in this venture. God has promised to direct my paths, if I trust in him and lean not on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). May he help me to do just that! I’m thankful also for your prayers, for I already feel them. And I’m thankful for the assurances many of you have given me that your prayers will enfold me throughout my service with Combined Joint Task Force Paladin in Afghanistan. That this time of preparation for deployment is coinciding with Lent serves as a good reminder that this calling to serve as a Chaplain is not about me so much as it is about what God has done and is doing in Jesus. During this season, we remember that Jesus has poured himself out for us, has loved us even to the point of dying upon a cross, and that God has raised him from the dead! In that power, Christ raises us up to be ministers of his reconciling peace. I pray that in this Lenten season, you and I will learn to rely ever more fully upon Christ’s resurrection power at work among us, wherever we may be. Even as I am thankful for the memory of that young officer’s face, helping to motivate my ministry in Afghanistan, I am thankful for the lasting memory of your smiling faces, assuring me that I’m not alone in my work. So let’s prepare for Easter with joyful hearts, trusting that the Lord who has began this good work in us will bring it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). Blessings and peace,

The Morganton Service League is preparing for the annual Prom Project. The

date is set for March 17, 2012. This free service offers young ladies in Burke County the opportunity to attend their prom by providing them with a beautiful dress.

Collections are underway for dresses, shoes, accessories and monetary donations.

To make a donation, please contact: Leanne Brittain - 828-448-5806, Lynn Brown - 828-217-2331, or

Kelly Messenheimber - 828-448-0126

Missions: Second Harvest Mobile Food Pantry

Sponsored by: First United Methodist Church & Burke United Christian Ministries on March 29th at the back of the church from 8 a.m. until 12 noon or until food is gone. We need 20 volunteers to help process & distribute food. If you would like to volunteer, please call Waits Gordon at 828-390-4343 or call the church office at 828-437-0921.

March 26th is FUMC’s day at the BUCM soup kitchen. If you would like to help just notify the office. In January, the UMW fed 184 and the UMM fed 240.

GOOD NEWS OUTREACH Prayer Tips

Scripture ~ Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. - Romans 12:1 Reflection ~ A low standard of religion lives by a low standard of praying… we must give ourselves fully to God in prayer. Prayer ~ Dear God, I surrender my life to You completely. I want to live holy & pleasing in Your sight… please guide me. Amen

2012 MARION DISTRICT UNITED METHODIST WOMEN PRAYER BREAKFAST

The 2011 Marion District United Methodist Women Prayer Breakfast will be Saturday, March 24th at Marion First United Methodist, 176 Robert Street, Marion, NC. Breakfast will begin at 8:30 a.m. with worship service beginning at 10:00. Guest speaker is Sue Owen, better known as Betty Sue Buttermilk. Cost is $6.50 per person. RSVP by March 6, 2012 to Ellen Needham at 437-9334 or edn97@bellsouth.net.

OOPS! We left Mable Mull’s name off of February’s list.

Happy Birthday, February 13th, Mabel!

Faith - Hope - Love in Action

The UMW Scholarship is available in the church office. This

$1,000 scholarship is available to students who are members of a

United Methodist Church. High school seniors, Undergraduate

students and Graduate students may apply. The dates for

submission are now through April 15th. The scholarship will be

awarded in May.

EASTER LILIES….The congregation is invited to give Easter Lilies in honor/memory of loved ones or friends. Please call the church office at 828-437-0921 to order. A special Easter Lily brochure will be included in the Easter Sunday bulletin with all honorariums and memorials. The deadline to submit is Monday, April 2nd and the cost is $12.00 each.

Fellowship Book Club...The next meeting of the

Book Club is Sunday, March 26th at 5:00 pm in the

Private Dining Room of Grace Ridge. Please note

the change in time. The book is Breath by Martha

Mason. It is available in e-book editions and pa-

perback among others. Please call Fletcher Nelson,

Jr. with questions at 828-437-8639. All are wel-

come to join!

Hearing Assistance

For the Hearing Impaired, we have 2 wireless

headphones available that may be used that will allow

you to hear from all areas within the sanctuary. Please

check with one of the ushers for assistance.

On Sunday, February 26th, Chloe –Ann Noelle

Edminsten, daughter of Willie & Jennifer, was baptized at

First UMC. We welcome her into our church family!

MUSIC NOTES

I wonder how many adult Christians can remember when they learned about things like Christ’s entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and the crucifixion. Our children’s choirs are rehearsing for their cantata, “The Little Donkey’s Easter

Journey,” and questions continue to arise about why all these events took place. Sometimes the children are frustrated that the answers aren’t simple, but I hope that by March 25th, when they present this story through music, it will have become a part of their faith for a lifetime. They will present the cantata for both 12+ and traditional worship that day!

As the weather warms, music camp is also on my mind. Currently, this year’s camp is scheduled for August 6 – 10. If Burke County Schools change the school calendar, that may affect our schedule. I will keep you posted.

Important choir dates include:

Sunday, March 11 – Middle School Handbells in 11:00 worship

Sunday, March 25th – All children’s choirs

(ages 4 – 5th grade) present “The Little Donkey’s Easter Journey” at 12+ and 11:00 worship

Sunday, April 1 –

Chancel Ringers play for 11:00 worship

Keep an eye on the bulletins for updates and changes!

Youth news… One of my favorite memories of growing up in the church was my time in Confirmation. I remember meeting in our church’s library and talking about creation, sin, redemption and Jesus. I remember the retreat we attended as we witnessed a man proclaim all things are possible through Christ, even playing the guitar with his feet due to a birth defect in his arms. This was the time I began to take responsibility for my faith development. I wanted to grow closer to this God who created me, sacrificed his Son, and wanted me to give my life as a living sacrifice.

Over the past several weeks Pam Andrews and I have met with 11 students who are journeying through Confirmation as well. Confirmation is a time when young people confirm God’s good work in their life, and affirm the commitment their parent’s acknowledged in their baptism as an infant, or possibly, they will make on Easter Sunday. I wish I had words to describe the excitement I share with Pam during this amazing time of growth and study. Our group has grown closer together each week and God’s presence is clear in the lives of this group.

In the coming weeks I ask our congregation to be in prayer for this specific group. Please pray that as their eyes are opened even wider to God’s grace, they too will confirm this love they find in Christ Jesus. As their community of faith, let us encourage not only their growth and education, but more importantly, their desire to live as a faithful disciple of the one who calls each of us. I list their names below so you can call them by name in your daily prayers and know whom you celebrate with on Easter Sunday as they stand before you as the newest members of Christ’s church.

With Gratefulness,

Todd <><

Ben Brittain Holland Erwin Lindsay Julien Thomas Messenheimer Lillie Pittman Ansley Rooks Virginia Scott Mary Simpson Reid Simpson Benjamin Succop Ally Toner

In SYMPATHY... We send Christian love and sympathy to the following in the loss of their loved ones.

Sara Lynn Oakley and Family in the loss of her beloved Aunt Lois Small of Valdese.

Betty V. Brown and Family in the loss of her sister’s beloved spouse, Harvey E. Hahn.

Kay Childres and Family in the loss of her beloved mother, Alta Moon.

PRAYER REQUESTS Grace Hospital ~ Alice Sakowski Church Members: Sarah Annis, Ira Bell, Shepherd Booth, Viola Brandon, Johnnie Broome, Betty Brown, Margaret & Nelson Causby, Jim Clemmer, Hugh Connelly, Vonnie Corley, Alice Carey, Jim Connelly, Clarence & Jane Crouch, Marinetta Fisher, Larry Fleming, Norma Gibbs, Elizabeth Gray, Kathleen Gibbs, Mildred Hallyburton, Diane Hamer, Tamara Haney, Floye Hood, Jack & Pat Howell, Thelma Isenhour, Lucy Maud Kibler, Alice Lineberger, Martha McFarlin, Fletcher Nelson, Jr., Sara Lynn Oakley, Ruby Pharr, Jan Robarge, Mildred Roberts, Pat Sanders, Eloise Sanderford, Betty Smith, Helen Smith, Smaro Sossoman, Margaret Stark, Bib Talton, Bob Townsend, Madelyn Walker, Chris Witherspoon.

Extended Church Family: Betty Biggerstaff, Bennie Buff, Earl Causby (Tony Causby’s father), Betty Chambers (Sara Lynn’s aunt), Carter Cheves, Toby Contor (Brenda Webb’s cousin’s husband), Dr. Andy Davis, Zack Falls (deployed to Afghanistan ~ Grandson of Roy & Sherry Lookadoo), Rowena Fink (Aunt of Nancy Barnett), Irish Hatchel, Kelley Hipple, Rose Lynn Imbleau, Edward & Charlotte Lawton (Janie Saumell’s father & mother), Pastor Allen Marsh, Daniel Mayer, Rebecca McClure (Sara Lynn’s daughter), Emily McIntyre (Travis Saulman’s girlfriend), Caitlin McKenzie (granddaughter of Jim & Cackie Connelly), Carolyn Harris Noles (Marinetta Fisher’s sister), Liz Mills (daughter of Tina and Charles Conley), James R. Norman (Missionary in Nicaragua ~ John & Jane Greene’s grandson), Mary Nelson Pierce (Fletcher Nelson’s sister), Cliff Pierce (Fletcher Nelson’s nephew), Pat Earley Puett (Marinetta Fisher’s long-time friend), Elaine Shook (friend of Helen Smith), Alice Ann Soldon (Babette Fleming’s sister), Dr. Anne Sparks (Marinetta Fisher’s niece), Harriette Thompson (Sydnor’s mother), Mabel Thomas, Katie Wood (Sara Lynn Oakley’s daughter).

A CALL TO PRAYER

The Bob Dylan song says “The times, they are a changin’ “, and that is certainly true for our church.

Our Senior Pastor is called up by the United States Navy to be the Chaplin for men and women in service of our country in Afghanistan.

A new Senior Pastor will be appointed by the Bishop to begin in July.

The Bishop will appoint an interim pastor to bridge between the time Sydnor leaves and Annual Conference appoints a permanent replacement

The Finance Committee has adopted an unbalanced budget for 2012 that is causing us to look at cost reductions that haven’t been considered for a long time.

Church debt has been restructured to reduce interest rates, and a term for payout has been established, a prudent, positive step towards getting out of debt.

We are successfully operating two worship services of quite different styles, and we need to sustain and grow both of them as we provide ministries to our members and our community.

Our Associate Pastor has completed all requirements for ordination as an Elder in our church, a wonderful accomplishment for him, for our church, and for the edification of God’s kingdom.

I am asking the congregation to be in prayer for our church and for the leaders of the conference, the district and our church who are already involved in addressing most of these changes. Specifically,

Be in prayer for our District Superintendent, the Bishop and the Cabinet as they deliberate about candidates who may be our new Senior Pastor. That deliberation will occur, and the decision will be made the week of March 12.

Be in prayer for Sydnor. He has served God in and through our church for 6 years, and now he is moving to a very unfriendly place where he will be in harm’s way serving people who go into harm’s way every day. We are thankful for his service and pray for his new direction in service and for his safety.

Be in prayer for Todd. Let’s celebrate with him this hurdle he has just cleared and rejoice for his service to our church.

Give thanks that our budget for 2012 estimates revenues of $644,417. This is a big number that comes largely from our faithful members; but it isn’t enough to cover ever-growing expenses.

Be in prayer for our church leaders who are exploring options and taking actions that will reduce expenses of the church, find ways to “live within our means”, and refocus our financial resources upon our mission. This is difficult work that is being done with much examination and prayer calling upon God’s hand to guide the church and God’s hand to lead those affected to other open doors.

Be in prayer as we celebrate in our services of worship; ask for the Holy Spirit to fill our worship, and let us be a beacon of light in our community

Pray that we will more fully understand the mission of the church to be a means of serving God. The church isn’t here to serve us; we are here to serve God through the church

Pray that our congregation will step up to see what is needed and then get busy getting it done.

Let’s give thanks to God for the blessings of our community of faith even as we make adjustments in how we serve Him.

Paul Johnson Lay Leader

Church-Wide Wood Cutting Event

March 17, 2012 9:00 am until

Call Birch McMurray at 828-438-0964 for more information and to sign up!

Lunch will be provided.

YOUTH CAKE AUCTION

2012

Fundraiser

Bring A Cake, Buy a Cake,

BE THERE!

Date: Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Where: Fellowship Hall ~

Wednesday Nite Live

Time: 6:00 pm ~ Until

Family Support Group ...sponsored by Burke Substance Abuse Network

Are you dealing with the stress Of a loved one’s addiction?

Come to the first Family Support Group

meeting on March 16th at Noon At the Old Rock School in Valdese…

Guest Speaker—Tom Rhyne (Burke Co. Sheriff’s Dept.)

Learn about addiction Learn about organizations that can help in

Burke County Talk to others who walk in your shoes

Box lunch will be provided.

RSVP ~ 828-433-1221 to sign up!