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Newsletter December 2015
December Activities and Services Christmas food offering– December 6th, the Second Sunday of Advent. Plan to bring canned goods to each worship service to help feed those in the community who visit our Food Pantry and receive Christmas help this year through the White Christmas Program. Community Christmas Breakfast– December 12th, 9am. Good food and a Christmas carol sing-along. Register online. Music Sunday– December 13th , the Third Sunday of Advent. Enjoy the sounds of the season in both 8:20 and 11am services. The Chancel Choir, Credo, and instrumentalists will present a variety of music at the 8:20 service. During the 11am service sing-along carols will be led by the Praise Team and there will be a special presentation during the message time by our children’s choirs. (p. 4) The Gift of a Toy goes a long way in making Christmas a special time for a child in need. On December 13th you can help by donating an unwrapped toy as part of our offering during both worship services. We would like to collect new toys (around $10 each) to be given to children during our Christmas Food Pantry distribution on Dec. 14th. Thank you for bringing a smile to these precious faces! La Posada- December 16th at 6pm; Mexican Christmas Celebration for the whole congregation. Come enjoy tamales and dessert, Sing-along Spanish and English Christmas carols. There will be piñatas for the children. Bring a dessert to share for this wonderful family event!. Please register at www.wpumc.com. Anita Burroughs-Price, Harpist with the North Carolina Symphony– December 20th. You will be delighted to hear Christmas music for both services and enjoy a mini-concert of harp music during the 9:45 Sunday school hour in the Sanctuary. Love Feast– December 20th at 7pm. The White Plains Love Feast features traditional Christmas carols and testimonies by our church family teaching us of God’s provision throughout the year.
Christmas Eve– December 24th at 5pm, 7pm, 9pm, and 11pm 5pm Contemporary Service featuring Holy Communion and Candlelighting in the Christian Life Center, Children’s
Sermon Time with the Puppets, Rev. Ray Warren preaching. 7pm Traditional Service with Holy Communion and Candlelighting in the Sanctuary, Rev. Ray Warren preaching. 9pm Service of Music and Meditation in the Sanctuary with Holy Communion and time to be still and reflect on
life and the gift of Christmas. 11pm Traditional Service with Holy Communion and Candlelighting in the Sanctuary, Rev. Rob Phillips preaching.
After Christmas- Lessons and Carols Worship Service– December 27th at 10:30am. Hear the story of Christmas told through scripture and carols.
Hispanic Ministry—Coming with the New Year!
Over fourteen years ago, our Hispanic ministry was birthed as Luz de Pueblo! What a gift this ministry has been in our community and to our church! Yet, as we began facing many of our financial needs over the past couple of years, we also struggled with resourcing this wonderful ministry. This very needed ministry costs White Plains approximately $75,000 per year – a good amount of money for any church! As we and our Luz del Pueblo leadership began looking at how we might bridge this cost issue for our church, we found two possibilities to bridge the funding gap we are facing. We were fortunate to find Hispanic Ministry grants from Duke Endowment and the NC Conference of
the United Methodist Church. We were blessed to receive $52,000 in grant funding. We realized that just keeping the doors open at our annex building cost the church about $25,000 per
year. We began exploring the possibility of the Hispanic Ministry merging onto our main campus. Our Spanish-speaking members of our congregation agreed that this would be an exciting possibility. Our next logistical question was, “Where and when does our Hispanic/Latino congregation worship?” One possibility seemed most clear: our sanctuary is available at 11am on Sunday for worship. Our Luz del Pueblo members face a change in their worship time, and getting accustomed to a different space, and worshiping in a room much larger than in the past. They will be on the main campus, worshiping, studying, singing, and praying starting January 1, 2016! What an opportunity to show the world the goodness and grace of God, with people of different cultures and backgrounds, working together, wor-shiping together, praying and caring for one another!
Oh, we almost forgot to mention something! Pastor Edith and her team have asked that starting in January that we no longer call our Hispanic/Latino ministry “Luz de Pueblo” but rather “Spanish Speaking Members of White Plains” or “Hispanic Ministry.” Our Hispanic ministry offices have already relocated to the main campus in our office wing, so go by and say “Hola!” to welcome them on campus!
Look for news about our Future Story by email and on Facebook SOON! The presentation of our Future Story will be made on January 24th during a Unified Worship Service at 10:30am.
Please pray for the final writing team as they prepare for the Future Story presentation.
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Christmas is right around the corner. Time to start looking for that perfect little something to give your neighbor, co-worker or friend. How about a WPUMC cookbook?! We have a limited supply of our very popular cookbooks left that we sold last year. If you missed out last year, this is your chance… Cookbooks are $15 and all proceeds go to Pastor's Discretionary Fund to help families in need. It's a win-win! So
start your Christmas shopping today by calling Debbie Lewis at 919-467-9394 to reserve yours, or come by the office and pick one up!
December 6: Family Service at 9:20am, Annex December 10: Seeds of Love Posada celebration at 5:30pm at the annex. December 16: Posada at White Plains at 6pm- Mexican Christmas Celebration for the whole congregation Come enjoy tamales and dessert, Sing-along Spanish and English Christmas carols. There will be piñatas for the children. Bring a dessert to share for this wonderful family event!. Please register at www.wpumc.com. December 20: Christmas Celebration Service at 9:20am, Annex December 27: Last Service at the Annex. We will have a special service celebrating all the years together at the annex. We will have lunch after the service.
Please join us for these special celebrations. Feliz Navidad and Happy New Year!!
Library Corner- Check our display shelf this month for suggested Advent and Christmas reading, as well as books to conclude our series on the Persons of the Trinity. This month’s Web post, “The One Who Sustains Us Until We Are Home,” features books on the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts by the late UMC Bishop Mack B. Stokes, Baptist pastor Charles Stanley, Pentecostal theologian Gordon Fee, and others: http://wpumc.com/suggested-reading/one-who-sustains-us/ — Ann Sherwin
Women's Winter Brunch Saturday, January 16th, 10am until Noon in the CLC
Continuing in our “Be Thou My Vision” theme and led by Jenifer Swindell Bring a friend and a brunch dish to share. Sign up online. Childcare is available, but it
must be requested no later than Sunday, January 10th. If you would like to host a table of 6-8 women, email Robin Cranfill at
The women's spring retreat is at Trinity Retreat Center at the beach on April 29-May 1. Details will be available soon. These events are sponsored by WINGS (Women Interested in Growing Spiritually). ALL women are encouraged to
participate. If you would like to help plan women's events, please contact Robin at [email protected].
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Looking Ahead: February 20 – Teddy Bear Tea
March 20 – Palm Sunday Celebration
Please join us! The children’s choirs will present “Christmas is Jesus” on Sunday,
December 13th! Through interactive songs and engaging narration, we are reminded that
the Christmas message, at its core, is quite simply…Jesus. Nothing can compare to the true
miracle that happened all those years ago. It will be the message during the 11:00am
worship service that day, and then we will have a second performance, along with caroling
and fellowship, at 3:00pm in the CLC. A nursery will be provided.
Our children have been working hard to prepare this wonderful message and we hope it will
be a blessing to you!
You are invited to come and share in La Posada on Wednesday, December 16th, at 6:00pm in the CLC. We will come together for dinner, followed by traditional Spanish and English caroling, piñatas, and dessert. If you’d like to help prepare tamales for the dinner (on Tuesday), let Pastor Edith know. For more information, see the Hispanic Ministries section of the newsletter.
Did you know?...the White Plains Love Feast will be on Sunday, Dec. 20th at 7:00pm. This is a beautiful time of reflection, sharing, and singing carols together. The Junior Choir will lead one of the traditional carols! Some comments from those who have attended in the past include, “I had no idea what I’ve been missing.” and “It set my heart on the real meaning of Christmas.” Children are welcome and will hear from their church family how God is at work in our lives! A nursery is provided for our little ones.
Did you know?...
There are FOUR opportunities for worship on Christmas Eve!
5:00pm Contemporary Service
7:00pm Traditional Service
9:00pm Meditative Service
11:00pm Traditional Service
For more details, see the front of the newsletter! Sunday, December 27th is our Lessons and Carols service at 10:30am. Hear the re-telling of the Christmas story through scripture and song as we celebrate the birth of Jesus! There will not be children’s Sunday School on this day. Nurseries will be open for children 5 and under.
Thinking about joining children’s choirs or handbells? January is the perfect time to jump in as we begin to prepare for worship services, Palm Sunday, and our spring musical! Rehearsals are on Sunday afternoons and
resume on Jan. 10th. Let Ms. Beth know if you are interested!
The Gift of a Toy goes a long way in making Christmas a special time for a child in need. Please help us by donating an unwrapped toy as part of our offering on December 13th during both worship services. We would like to collect new toys (around $10) to be given to children during our Christmas Food Pantry distribution on Dec. 14th. Thank you for bringing a smile to these precious faces!
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Have you heard about the fun, spiritual, and life-changing retreat called Discovery? Discovery 2016 is coming up, and we want YOU to attend! Discovery is an in-house retreat centered on middle school youth with the purpose of showing them God’s love through our church, the scripture, and life’s celebrations. Spanning from Friday night to Sunday afternoon, the middle school youth will participate in and grow from a variety of social, emotional, and spiritual ac-tivities such as Disciple Groups, high school talks, Forgiveness Service, Discovery Prayer Service, long break, meals, and Discovery Sunday services. Fast Facts When is Discovery 2016? Discovery 2016 is Friday, Feb. 5 (7pm)- Sunday, Feb. 7 (2pm) What is the cost of registration for Discovery? Registration is $50.00. (As always, confidential scholarships are available. Please ask Rob for more details if necessary.) When is the registration payment due? Registration payment is due January 10, 2016 What happens if my registration payment is late? If your registration payment is late (January 10th), the cost will increase to $60.00. (You MUST contact Rob Phillips to verify space and availability.) What do I need to bring/pack for this retreat? We will provide all meals, accommodations, activities and supplies. You will need casual clothes, toiletries, a sleeping bag, socks, and your Bible. Further packing details to come later. We pray that you will join us for this wonderful, beloved retreat called Discovery. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to talk to or contact Mack and Sarah Lloyd (919-324-4858).
Mack and Sarah Lloyd- Discovery Lay Leaders
DISCOVERY 2016
FEBRUARY 5-7
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Sisters in Support, breast cancer support group for women who have had breast cancer and those currently undergoing treatment, meets on the second Tuesday of each month, 7-8:30pm. The next meeting is December 8th. Contact Lee Heathcoat, [email protected], for information. Image courtesy of scottchan at
Prayer Concerns— Jane Miller, Lucy Lowry, Phyllis Lang, David and Lorraine Perkinson, Ruth Bolz,
Porter Richardson, Roy Carawan, Blanche Comer, Steve Fulghum, Cyndy Fettig, Becky Humphries, Harlen Van Sloten, Sarah Furr, Jackie Pressley, Dylan Harrell, Bill Easter, and those serving in the Armed Forces.
A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL WHO WORKED THE FAIR BOOTH THIS YEAR! On Monday, October 26th, the Cary Methodist Fair Booth came to an official close for another season. It was a wonderful year for White Plains sign ups! Thanks to everyone who volunteered for shifts, helped with set up, clean up, or sign ups, or contributed to the overall effort. “It takes a village”! We won’t know exactly how much White Plains will receive for a couple of months (usually about $18,000), but each volunteer shift worker raises ~$50 for our White Plains missions activities. Thanks to everyone for getting involved and supporting the Outreach activities at White Plains. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.
– Your 2015 White Plains Fair Booth Coordinators (Dave DeMaster, Travis Nobles, and Mark Edwards) and Your Mission Work Area.
If you or someone you love has been impacted by cancer, we invite you to consider Cancer Companions. We offer one-on-one support from trained individuals here at White Plains using faith-based written materials and videos. For more information, contact Scottie Dietz at 919-387-7675, [email protected]. Cancer Companions also offer continuing prayer support for those with cancer. We welcome your confidential prayer requests. Please send your requests and praises to Ann Perkins, [email protected].
The Daytime Book Club meets the third Tuesday of the month from 3-4:30pm in room C205. There will not be a meeting in December so plan to read ahead for January 16th and join the discussion. The January selection is Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving and Finding the Church, by Rachel Held Evans. Copies are available in Wake County Libraries. Contact Ann Sherwin, (919) 859-5846, for more information.
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Food Pantry Ministries: Our Christmas Meal Bag Distribution will be held on Monday, December 14th, 3-6 pm, from the Christian Life Center. Your help donating a full or partial meal bag is appreciated. These food items are needed: Canned corn; Canned mixed vegetables; Canned fruit; 1 can pasta sauce; 1 pasta noodle; 1 box baking mix; 2 cans evaporated milk; 2 boxes mac & cheese; 1 brownie mix; 1 lb. bag rice; 1 lb. bag pinto beans, Canned tuna, large canned chicken noodle soup. Volunteers will be preparing 250 food bags. We will also be providing a $15 grocery coupon for each guest family attending the Distribution. Finan-cial donations are needed and welcomed. Please make checks to WPUMC with Food Pantry on the memo line. Thank you for your prayers and your continued, faithful support with donations and service. For more information and to help, contact Ann Whitfield, [email protected], OR Vicki Cudd, [email protected].
WPCC Children and staff have had an exciting start to the fall season! We had our first “Together Time” of the 2015-2016 school year last month. “Together Times” are when WPCC families (both current and past) and staff share a meal and play, usually at a community park. We had a huge turnout and had a great time relaxing outdoors. On October 29th, we held our annual school-wide costume parade! Thank you to the WPUMC church staff members who passed out goodies to all of our little minions, ladybugs, and
police officers! Your participation helped make that day even more special. Along with the church staff, we had about a dozen parent and therapist volunteers pass out goodies. The costume parade was big fun and all of our students were able to participate at his/her own level of comfort.
Thank you to those who donated to our Go Fund Me campaign! Our fundraising total is currently just shy of $6,500! Donations are still coming in and it’s not too late to contribute. If you would like to support the center by donating, please visit Go Fund Me and view our page at: https://www.gofundme.com/mk297www. Again, thank you for your continued support!
WPCC wishes everyone a happy Thanksgiving and holiday season! To keep up with all the fun here at the center, please visit our homepage and/or like us on Facebook.
WHITE CHRISTMAS PROGRAM The Christmas Holidays will soon be here, so it is time to start thinking about reaching out to less fortunate families in our community. The White Plains White Christmas Program this year will be supporting families with direct White Plains church ties in the greater Cary area. We are putting together lists of families in need (through our Apartment Food Distribution ministry, our Hispanic ministries, our Food Pantry, and possibly Wake Interfaith Hospitality Network ministry). We are looking for support groups from the church, who would be willing to sponsor a family in need and be willing to contact them, find out some things that they might need, and deliver food and gifts to the family on Sunday, December 20th. The White Christmas Program and the Food Pantry will take care of providing the food for distribution (with your help as part of the Christmas Food Drive). If you would like information about the White Christmas Program or would like to sponsor a family in need, please contact Vicki or Dave DeMaster, [email protected] or Linda Byrd, [email protected]. Thanks for your continued support of this Outreach activity.
Toy Drive– Bring a new toy to worship on December 13th to help support children who visit our Food Pantry during the Christmas Meal Distribution. Details, p. 4.
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Counters
December 6th Annex
Bruce Cranfill Frank Rea
Carolina Pottery Mary Tom Hink Wayne Tindle
December 13th Annex
Bob Carawon David Tyree
Carolina Pottery
Jim Morgan Fred Kastner
Shuttle Bus Drivers
December 6th
Steve Bostian Gerald Redwine December 13th
Gerald Redwine TBD
December 20th TBD TBD December 27th
10:30 Service only TBD TBD
Stephen Ministry
December 6th
8:20am TBD
11:00am Laura Stealey
December 13th
8:20am Scottie Dietz
11:00am Volunteer Needed
December 20th
8:20am Volunteer Needed
11:00am Volunteer Needed
December 27th 10:30 Service
10:30am Betty Walden Laura Stealey
December 20th Annex
Jerry Letchworth Ken Warner
Carolina Pottery
Jim Avett Sally Warner
December 27th 10:30am Service
No shuttle service
available
December 6th New Horizons/The
Bridge
December 13th Friends
December 20th
Advent December 27th 10:30 Service
Epiphany/BASIC
December 6th (945) Patricia Streeter (11) Vicki Whittaker
December 13th (9:45) Diane Welton
(11) TBD
December 20th (9:45)
(11) TBD
December 27th 10:30 Service
Rosemary Gaddy
Parking Greeters Nursery Care
WORSHIP ATTENDANCE
November 1st
8:20am………..277
11am ............ 170
Luz del. . . . . . 60
TOTAL .......... 407
Sunday School
Children .......... 33
Youth .............. 27
Adults ........... 299
TOTAL .......... 359
November 8th
8:20am………..222
11am ............. 142
Luz del. . . . . . 36
TOTAL .......... 400
Sunday School
Children .......... 28
Youth .............. 34
Adults ........... 273
TOTAL .......... 335
November 15th November 22nd
8:20am………….183 8:20am………….235
11am…………… 116 11am..…………..140
Luz del. . . . . . .. 35 Luz del. . . . . . . .32
TOTAL…………. 334 TOTAL…………..407
Sunday School Sunday School
Children………...43 Children…………..32
Youth……………..48 Youth……………...30
Adults…………..255 Adults…………….270
TOTAL…………..346 TOTAL…………...332
Financial Info: As of 11/25/15 Year to Date Giving, General Fund $1,135,648. Year 2015 Budget, $1,370,000.
Are you interested in helping to fill in the blanks??? Contact the Church Office to Volunteer!
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White Plains Calendar
December
Sundays 8:20 and 11am, Worship 9:45am, Sunday Schools 4:30pm, Bible Studies, start 9/120 UMYF, Children’s Choir and Bells 6:30pm, Credo, Youth Handbells Mondays 7pm, Boy Scouts Tuesdays 5:30pm, Seeds of Love Wednesdays 6:30pm, Bible Studies Thursdays 9:30am, Bible Study 4pm, Food Distribution 5:30pm, Seeds of Love Fridays 6am, Basketball, C200 Special Dates December 6– Food Offering in Worship December 13– Music Sunday!, Toy Drive December 14– Christmas Meal Bag Distribution December 16– La Posada December 20– Anita Burroughs-Price, Harpist, 8:20 and 11am services December 20– Love Feast December 24– Christmas Eve Services, 5pm, 7pm, 9pm, and 11pm December 27– Lessons and Carols 10:30am Service
Next Newsletter deadline: December 15th to be emailed December 30th
Bulletin deadline is each Monday at noon [email protected]
Look for the weekly eBlast
The Finance Office asks that if you pay by check, please do not staple or fold the check. We now use a check scanner to process your contribution and the scanner will not properly process folded or stapled checks. If you are able, we also ask that you write separate checks for each fund to which your contribution will be distributed. In an effort to make sure we have all the details of articles to be publicized, we ask that you go to www.wpumc.com/submit and fill out the form for your article. Information given will then be used for publicity in the newsletter, bulletin, eBlast and monitors as appropriate. Email [email protected] with questions.
A Stephen Ministry
Congregation
Church Office 919-467-9394
Pastor’s Office 919-467-4991
Fax Number 919-481-0213
Hispanic Ministry 919-467-4685
Stephen Ministry Information
919-467-5933
Finance Office Hours
9am-2pm
Church Office Hours
8am-5pm Monday-Thursday
8am-3:30pm Friday
Sunday Worship Services
8:20am, Sanctuary
11:00am, Christian Life Center
@WPUMC
@WPUMCYouth
fb.com/wpumc
Ministry Team Emails
Bert Fox– Director of Music Ministries, [email protected]
Beth Laverty– Director of Children’s Ministries and Music, [email protected]
Carol Carawon– Connections Director, [email protected]
Chad Cygan– Contemporary Worship Leader, [email protected]
Debbie Lewis– Director of Adult Ministries and Missions, [email protected]
Edith Salazar-Veliz– Pastor for Hispanic Ministires, [email protected]
Finance Office– [email protected]
George Smit– Facilities Coordinator, [email protected]
Jenifer Swindell– Pastor of Worship, Design and Communications, [email protected]
Lee Heathcoat– Minister of Congregational Care, [email protected]
Mac Pannill— Organist, [email protected]
Nancy Plath– Business Administrator, [email protected]
Ray Warren– Senior Pastor, [email protected]
Rob Phillips– Pastor of Youth and Family Ministires, [email protected]
@wpumc.com