Sunday, April 19 At the 11:00 a.m. worship service
No 8:30 service
“By the Sea”Children’s Spring Musical
something new and exciting is happening at Mount vernon church ...
April 19 through May 31:
A Six-Week CelebrAtion of oUr Children’S MiniStrieSWe are so blessed at Mount Vernon
that we want to take our children’s ministries to a new level !
Notice the photos in this newsletter. Think of the programs offered here – Godly Play, Vacation Bible School, children’s choirs,
Children’s House Preschool and Daycare, LiveArt, children’s musicals – all building faith,
hope, and love for Christ and the church.
Everyone, please consider giving a substantial gift, over and above your pledge. Currently we have
120 pledging families. We can reach this goal if each gives $208.33.
Can we do that for the children?
The Finance Committee has set a goal of raising $25,000 in six weeks!
$208.33!!!Just $35 a week... Let’s do it!
Upcoming Youth Events Please mark your calendars:
Sunday, April 19 Warrick Scott, grandson of NASCAR legend Wendell Scott, will speak to our high school youth group at 6 p.m. Guests are welcome. June 4–8 High School study trip to New York CityJuly 16–17 Younger Youth mission eventJuly 26–31 Project Crossroads mission
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Music is and always has been a special part of Mount Vernon Church and its ministry. To support this music, everyone is invited to a special Wednesday night supper on April 29. The meal for our “Music Ministry Supper” will be prepared and served by members who participate in our varied music ministry. There will be music during the meal, and the program will feature special music and information about Mount Vernon’s music ministry. The regular church budget covers our music director’s salary and benefits, but no longer covers the other costs for our music program, such as purchasing music and maintenance of the instruments. We receive support from the Mount Vernon Foundation and special gifts, but these do not cover the cost of our music ministry, which serves and blesses everyone. So the Mount Vernon members who give so generously of their time and talent will now be “cooking, serving, and performing.” There will be no set cost for the meal. Everyone will have an opportunity to make a contribution to our ongoing music program. If you cannot attend, but wish to contribute, you may send a check payable to Mount Vernon United Methodist Church and mark it “Music Ministry.” Our music ministry reaches from preschool to seniors – and everyone between. There are three youth and children’s choruses: (1) Preschool – 2nd grade, (2) Grades 3 – 6, and
(3) Youth: grades 7–12. The Aldersgate Choir and the Epworth Choir are our adult choirs, while our adult bell choirs are the Aldersgate Ringers and the Wesley Ringers. Of course, there are soloists, duos, and quartets, as well. In addition to the music that helps make each wor-ship service so meaningful, we have special programs throughout the year. They include the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols and the Spring Choral Program. The children do programs at Christmas and in the spring. The music program also includes instruction for all children who attend Children’s House, handbell camps, and Vacation Bible School. Can you imagine Mount Vernon without its special music? Please come on April 29 to eat, to hear special music, and to support our music ministry. – The Music Ministry Supper Committee
Music Ministry Supper : Wednesday, April 29
News from Our United Methodist Women
Circle #2 will host a Bible study, “Transitions and Coping with Change.”
Join us in the Winn Chapel at 7:00 p.m. on April 21 for fun and fellowship.
Refreshments will be served.
Note: There will be no general meeting of the UMW in May.
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Worship ServicesApril 19
third sunday of easterScripture: Hebrews 1: 1 – 4
“By the Sea”A Children’s Musical
of the Ministry of Jesus by the Sea of Galilee
April 26fourth sunday of easterScripture: 2 Peter 3: 1 – 13
Sermon: “Easter: ‘Turn It Loose’ (Luo)”
The Rev. Barry S. Foster
May 3fifth sunday of easter
Scripture: Isaiah 53: 1–12; Acts 8: 26 –40
Sermon: “Easter – ‘The Healing’”
The Rev. Barry S. Foster
Wednes day Dinners and Programs $6 adults; under 13, no charge.
Buttermilk pancakes, smoked bacon, country sausage links, eggs, cheddar cheese grits, biscuits, fresh fruit w/whipped topping, and chocolate chip pancakes for kids. Menu to come. Young Adults cooking
“Music Ministry Supper.” Menu to come. Musicians cooking
April 15 April 22 April 29
“The Gospel Accounts of the Resurrection,” by Ralph Hawkins “Worship: Symbols and Rituals,” by Barry FosterBy our music program participants
The April 29 dinner is the last Wednesday dinner of this season. Dinners and programs will resume in the fall.
DINNER PROGRAM
The Lenten OfferingThank you to everyone who has contributed to the 2015 Lenten Offering. So far, $1,812.00 has been raised. This will support the work of Dr. Tendai Manyeza at Old Mutare Mission Hospital in Zimbabwe, Africa. Dr. Manyeza is a
United Methodist missionary, with whom Mount Vernon Church has made a covenant to provide $2,500.00, our goal. He is the administrator – and the only doctor – for the Mutare hospital, with 70 beds and outpatient clinics that serve 60 to 70 patients a day, with the help of 13 nurses and 30 support staff. If you have not given, please help support our missionary.
“One Great Hour of Sharing”On Sunday, March 15, All United Methodists were asked to participate in “One Great Hour of Sharing,” with a donation to UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief. The people of Mount Vernon
have given $991.00. UMCOR will use this for administrative costs, so that all other donations can be used entirely to alleviate suffering around the globe, when war, conflict, or natural disasters disrupt life to such an extent that communities are unable to recover on their own.
Did You Know?Here is a way of giving to consider: Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) If you are older than 70½ and have an individual retirement account (IRA), you are required to take annual distributions from your IRA in order to avoid penalties. These withdrawals are subject to individual income taxes. For the past several years the Internal Revenue Service has allowed taxpayers to direct that their IRA withdrawal (or a portion of it) be made payable directly to a tax-exempt organization, such as Mount Vernon Church, whereby your withdrawal is not subject to individual income tax and counts toward your annual IRA withdrawal. Consider making your IRA distribution, or a portion of it, to Mount Vernon, after consulting with your tax advisor. – The Finance Committee
Vacation Bible School 2015During the week of June 22–26, our church will be filled with the sights and sounds of children participating in fun discovery activities at a special Holy Land Adventure—in Nazareth! We’ll learn about Jesus as a boy. Children will worship God with songs and prayer, create unique craft pro-jects, learn about life in Nazareth, and learn from Mary how Jesus grew as a boy. Please join us this summer as we step back in time to Nazareth. We would be thrilled to have you visit Nazareth with us. There are many opportunities to volunteer at VBS. Please consider where your gifts and time would best serve: Tribe (Group) Leader: Prepare a 10- to 15-minute lesson each day and lead children around to the different areas (materials provided). Shopkeeper: Guide groups with making arts and crafts, serve snack, and more. Decorating Team: Transform our church back in time to Jesus’ Nazareth. Actors for Bible StoriesPlease contact Beth deAristizabal at 792-7766 or [email protected] for more information or to volunteer.
May Birthdays
April Birthdays
USHERSApril 19 8:30: Bill Booker, Tom Booker, Brendan deAristizabal (alt.)
11:00: Tom Leggett,* Andrew Farley, David Fuquay, Tommy Hodges, Bill Smith, Coleman Hylton (alt.)
April 26 8:30: Tom Savastano, Darrell Williamson, Brendan deAristizabal (alt.)
11:00: Dan Water,* J. G. Hurt, Charles Sampson, Tom Underwood, Frank Davis, John Ranson (alt.)
May 3 8:30: John Morris, Bill Booker, Brendan deAristizabal (alt.) 11:00: Tom Leggett,* David Fuquay, Tommy Hodges, Andrew Farley, Tom Underwood, Frank Davis (alt.)
Our Worship Assistants
At home: Bill Hardy, Ronnie WatersAt Roman Eagle: Zula Callahan
At Riverside Healthcare: Greg ReadAt Stratford House: Newton Ray Sr., Marjorie Hood
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The family of Dorothy Thompson Millner, who died on March 4, 2015.
The family of James Thomas Gauldin, Sr., who died on March 10, 2015.
2 Harper Mitchell Meredith Ashby Ramsden 4 Phillip Wright 5 Tom Darkis Bill Booker 6 Marj Hood Frances McMillan Anne Thomas 7 Rita Doggett Bill Fuller Beth Ranson 9 Shirley Bray Mary Evelyn Jefferson
Attendance8:30 11:00
March 1
March 8
March 15
March 22
March 29
22
21
27
25
26
115
116
156
111
128
Our sympathy to
Friends in the community:The Rev. Helen McKee
Total
137
137
183
136
154
11 Stuart Bray
12 Tom Underwood
15 Ellen Joyce Suzanne Miller Anne Powell Judie Turbiville
16 Leslie Shreve Kathryn Waters Brian Cuthrell
17 Frank Davis Verla Wall
18 Betty Turner
19 Cameron Booker Townes Lea
21 Mary Ellen Carter
22 Susan Davis Marshall White
24 David Fuquay Betty Jennings Alex Womack
25 Dennis Porter Greg Read
April: Bonnie Griffith, Lois Love, Emily Potts, Ruth Waggoner
May: Ann Williamson,* Emma Rich, Betty Fuller, Beth Payne, Abby deAristizabal
26 Nan Darkis27 Alysia Alber Frank Wickers28 Kevin Miller29 Lude Labieville30 Max Glass, Jr. Vicki Williams
We would like to thank everyone for your help
and support during Tim’s recent hospitalization
–– whether you prayed for us, looked after our
children, or visited at the hospital. It is said you
know who your true friends are when in times
of trouble. You, our church family, went beyond
friendship and showed us what it truly means to be
part of the family of Christ. I don’t think we can
truly express how much you all mean to us.
Tim, Leslie, Evan, and Jaden Navis
Gluten-free communion breadis available at Mount
Vernon. Please contact the pastor at 793-6824
before Communion Sunday if you
would like gluten-free wafers.
Congratulations to Dr. Ralph Hawkins, who has been accepted into the Virginia Annual
Conference as a Provisional Elder. He will be welcomed at the Clergy Session of
Annual Conference in Roanoke this June.
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A gift in memory of Ruth Callahan
has been received fromShirley Gammon
Gifts in memory of Dorothy Millner
have been received fromMary & Jerry Franks, Pat Maurakis,
and Elaine Seibert
Gifts in memory of Lucia Waters
have been received fromMr. & Mrs. Nelson E. Wright
and Carol & Lewis Williamson
A gift in memory of Lois Kirkland
has been received fromCynthia & Jimmy Edwards
Gifts in memory of Margaret Powell
have been received fromMartha B. Hylton, Tom & Betty Leggett, Pat Maurakis, Michael & Patsi Compton,
Harry & Margaret Milam, and Barbara Hardy Hamner
A gift in memory of Daniel Vicks
has been received fromJerry & Ely Foster
At the Averett University Honors & Scholars Banquet on April 7, Lude Labieville received an award naming her “The Outstanding Student in Spanish in the Department of Modern Languages.” Lude (who speaks French, Spanish, English, and Haitian Creole) is pursuing a double major in Biomedical Science and Modern Languages. She will graduate in the spring of 2016. This summer she will intern at the office of Dr. Greg Howard, dentist. Lude has visited Meharry and Howard dental schools and will begin the application process soon. Donations to the Haitian Student Fund will assist in the completion of Lude’s
undergraduate education.
It’s Time to Plan the 2015 Danville CROP Hunger WalkIf you or someone you know would like to join the planning team for the CROP Walk this fall, please contact Beth Bau-man, 489-6514. The team will meet on Monday, April 27, to begin planning the 2015 Walk. All are welcome! The CROP Walk brings together people of all ages, backgrounds, and faiths, to benefit Church World Ser-vice and local relief organizations.
Members of our High School Youth had an overnight retreat on April 10 –11 at Wildwood Lake and traveled to Greensboro to visit the International Civil Rights Museum.
Danville Memory Café at Ballou Park Nature CenterMemory Cafés provide opportunities for persons diagnosed with early to middle stage memory loss and their care partner(s)/family to engage with peers in arelaxed, unstructured environment. The café atmos-phere promotes social engagement and support through interaction with others experiencing similar lifestyle changes. The Danville Cafe is open every third Tuesday of the month, from 11 a.m. till noon. For more information contact Sharon Celsor-Hughes, 434-973-6122 ext. 123, [email protected], or Annette Clark, 540-345-7600, [email protected]
Digital News, Anyone?Sign up for the all-color, e-mail edition of this newsletter, and you will save paper, as well as postage and printing costg. Contact Lin Benefield, editor, at [email protected] to switch from paper to e-mail. Or you are welcome to receive both – the e-mail copy, which usually comes a day or two earlier, and a mailed copy.
Easter