Memorial Messenger

Memorial United Methodist Church 1100 West “C” Street Kannapolis, NC 28081

704.932.6711 jbbrookshire@yahoo.com www.memorialunitedmethodistchurch.org

Dear friends.

Recently, I was reminded of the explosive growth of Christianity in its early years, (and I want to thank my

friend, Rev. James Howell of Charlotte for his insights). In the first three hundred years of its existence, Christi-

anity grew in astonishing ways. In the year 100, less than 1% of all who lived in the ancient world were Chris-

tians. In the year 200, the number increased to around 2%. But by the year 300, nearly 50% of the population

were Christians! That's a 50-fold growth in one generation! What happened to cause this explosion, and is it

something we can possibly learn from?

Some claim the growth was due to Roman Emperor Constantine (272-337 A.D.) who, during his reign as Ro-

man Emperor, became the first emperor to convert to Christianity. He also made it safer for others to do the

same by putting a stop to religious persecution, allowing Christians to profess their faith without fear of punish-

ment or death. No doubt, this made a big difference, but the fact is, most of this amazing growth took place

before Constantine ever came to power. So what was it that caused Christianity to explode in numbers?

Based upon ancient writings of those who were there and saw what was happening, the growth of Christianity

came, not because of what they believed, but because of how they lived their lives. You see, they did not sepa-

rate themselves from the world - a world that only a handful of years earlier had come after them with swords

and spears. Instead, they expressed a new and unusual way of connecting with the world by loving their

neighbors.

Late in the 2nd century, Christian writer Tertullian explained it this way: "It is our care of the helpless, our prac-

tice of lovingkindness that brands us in the eyes of our opponents. They say, 'See how they love!'"

Two hundred years later, Emperor Julian tried and failed to stamp out Christianity. He was enraged at his fail-

ure to do so and grumbled, "Those impious Galileans (the Christians) support not only their own poor, but ours

as well."

Early Christians found themselves living in a very cruel world, a world in which the sick and dying were cast

aside, newborns with birth defects were left to die, women had no rights, and slavery was common. But rather

than retreat, the Christian Church chose to launch itself right into the heart of this cruel, hard world and began

to find ways to love and care for the hungry and homeless, the orphans and widows, the sick and dying, and

the lost and broken. The Christian Church loved, and that is the reason Christianity won the day.

Is it possible the Christian Church has gotten too caught up in slick advertising campaigns, doctrine, and wor-

ship styles? I believe the renewal of the Christian Church, the United Methodist denomination, and Memorial

United Methodist Church rests squarely on our relentless efforts to love, accept, invite, and care for all within

our midst ... to become family to those who need family ... to become a resting place for those who need rest. I

love what I'm seeing at our church, and I know we can do even better! I challenge you as I challenge myself

each and every day to help us find new and even better ways to love and care for our neighbors.

Join me in this prayer: "Lord, I want to be more like Jesus who always found a way to connect with the lost and

broken of his day. Forgive me, Lord, for caring too much about unimportant things and too little about demon-

strating my love for others through my time and gifts. Bless my efforts, Lord, as I rededicate myself to the busi-

ness of love. Amen."

Page 2 Memorial Messenger

October Birthdays October Wedding Anniversaries

Gail Wilhelm 3

Tiffany Morgan 4 Jim Brookshire & Linda Peterson 10

Bill Measmer 5 Ricky & Susan Basinger 28

Ryan Hoce 8

Mary Bellicourt 8

Haley Joyner 8

Butch Lambert 12

Alexis Lambert 15

Angela Artz 16

Allen Milem 20

Emma Milem 22

Barry King 24

Christi Cannon 26

Anna McCombs 30

November Birthdays November Wedding Anniversaries

Dawn Grant 5 B.L. & Louise Starnes 9

Ben Lambert 5

Steve Lambert 6

Logan McCombs 7

Chris Miller 8

Philip Tourville 12

Anthony E. Aldridge 13

Matthew Price 13

Larry Beaver 14

Heather Rogusky 15

Pauline Reynolds 18

Beth Harrison 20

Dionna Milem 21

Scott Boggs 21

Madison Boggs 24

Jim Brookshire 26

Beth Wilhelm 28

Montana Kimrey 30

Maria Kimrey 30

December Birthdays December Wedding Anniversaries

Tommy Owens 9 Doug & Susie Johnson 1

Sarah Price 12

Phyllis Atwell 14 Ernest & Barbara Brock 23

Holly Brown 24

Raymond Owens 30

Ashley G. Aldridge 30

Say hello to Angelo Barnette.

Angelo has just been given the

contract for custodian for our

campus. Angelo is Lee Ann’s

husband, Amaya and Alicia’s

dad. Welcome Angelo!

We are all strengthened by

small group studies. Some-

times it’s the perspective

and new knowledge we gain

from others in our group.

Sometimes it’s a time of

laughter and learning-while-

you’re-at-it.

Our September meeting was

held at Fat Boy's in Moores-

ville. We took our friends Car-

rie and Ann (who live at Care-

moor now) with us, which

was a treat for us as well as

them.

SMALL GROUP STUDIES

Here we go again!

Nifty Over Fifty

Page 3 Memorial Messenger

Join Bill Measmer for “PRIMETIME

MOMENTS” beginning October 7th,

weekly at 10am. Using clips from

some of our old favorites such as

Mayberry and Gilligan and others,

we’ll talk about appearances, bless-

ings, forgiveness, grace and much

much more. You can jump in any

week. See you there!

Current Needs:

Breakfast Items such as cereal,

grits and oatmeal

Canned Fruit

Tuna

Canned Pasta with Meat

Vienna Sausage

Assorted Canned Vegetables

Caption describing picture or graphic.

It is such a joy to find an opportunity to join with

those in our retirement centers and who have trou-

ble traveling on their own.

We will be going to the Classic Restaurant in

Denton Thursday, Oct. 17th and will leave the

church at 10:00 am. Join us! Susie Johnson

Mission Pot for CCM: October 27th.

Bring non-perishables to worship.

Page 4

Food Pantry

Soup

Sweet Peas

Green Beans

Peanut Butter

Corn

Pasta

Rice

Dry Beans

Clothing Center

Men’s clothes especially shirts of all kinds

Soup Kitchen

Individual packets of mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, salt & pepper

Institutional size cans of vegetables –or– large bags of frozen vegetables

Shelter

Washcloths (WalMart has packs of 18 washcloths for $4.00 a pack)

Towels

Flip flops (shower shoes)

Volunteers

We are in need of volunteers. Food Pantry. Volunteers pack groceries for clients who have

requested food. This opportunity is available Monday through Friday; 8:30 am – 12:00

pm, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm or 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm. Once a week is a big help!

Reception Area

We have one opening! Welcome clients and provide staff support as clients sign in for

services. Thursday; 8:00-12:00

Financial

Any gifts are welcome

If you are interested in any of these, please contact Emily Huffman at

ehuffman@rhmmail.org or 704-637-6838 ext 112.

Servants. Thank you to these folks who

served God’s Table at Rowan Helping

Ministries recently. They provided a

worship service and lunch to over 100

people of the community.

IN MEMORY OF CLARK GARDNER

By: Upper Room SS Class, Ginny Rus-

sell, Shirley Phillips, Pauline Rey-

nolds, Ed & Shirley Grass, Bob &

Dolores Daniels, Doug & Susie John-

son, Bill & Darlene Measmer,

Harriet Cannon, James & Joann

Overholt, A. Elizabeth Keever Memo-

rial UMC, Steve & Peggy Lambert,

Brown & Jane Gardner,

Daniel Biediger, Robert & Gail

Phillips, Faye Taylor, Ralph &

Helen Dickson, Tom & Laura

Keever, The Arc of Greensboro,

Walter & Melissa Gardner, Presly

Bible Class, Coddle Creek ARP

Church

Page 5 Memorial Messenger

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES

I've had several of you ask about my journey to become an ordained United Methodist pastor, so here is a

brief update. First, there are several meaningful paths for full-time ministry in The United Methodist Church.

I chose the path of becoming an "ordained elder" which, among other things, reflects my commitment to a

lifetime of service to The United Methodist Church. It also gives me the privilege of being able to represent

our denomination both inside and outside our local church setting for the rest of my life. Ordination as an

elder requires a Masters of Divinity degree from an accredited seminary which I completed in May of this

year. (HOORAY!) Although graduation is a big step, it is only one of several remaining steps to my ordination

as a United Methodist elder.

My graduation from seminary earned me the right to appear before the Board of Ordained Ministry last

Spring to assess my progress. After writing a variety of very lengthy papers for their review and being inter-

viewed for hours, I "passed" and became a "Provisional Elder" in The United Methodist Church. (another

HOORAY!) That means they affirm my potential to become an ordained elder and agree to support me in

ministry for the rest of the process.

Now, I have a new three-year journey ahead of me, the centerpiece of this phase being in connection with

small group of other pastors who are in this same phase of ministry. I am required to meet with this group

(along with an assigned Elder to guide our work) six times a year for the next three years as we focus on

three important areas of ministry - leadership, preaching/teaching, and theology. At the end of the three

years, I will appear again before the Board of Ordained Ministry (after writing even more papers) for their as-

sessment of my readiness as an ordained elder.

WHEW!! If you read and understood all of that, you're an exception! Many/most are not very interested in the

details ... and I don't blame them! But here's the deal ... I want you to know how seriously The United Meth-

odist Church takes the occupation of pastoral leadership. Ordination as an elder in our denomination re-

quires both an authentic calling from God and an affirmation from the church of a candidate's ability and

readiness. I like the process, and I respect the process very much.

While I still have so much to learn, I am growing every day. And I hope my growth will make a difference in

the life of our church. I continue to thank you for your support of Linda and me in this journey, and ask for

your continued prayers for both of us. Pastor Jim

Page 6 Memorial Messenger

8/4 8/11 8/18 8/25 9/1 9/8 9/15 9/22 9/29

Worship Attendance 94 97 94 91 82 93 83 82 92

Sunday School

Attendance

37 29 32 33 36 26 41

Offering 2878 1927 2395 3724 4811 2451 2451 2204 3381

Memorials 75 200 535 225 25

Building Fund 10 30 280 5

We Care 12 25 25 50 10

Youth 5 5

Back Packs 95 25 100

Special Account (anonymously

given for missions)

500

UMM 10

Sound System 10

Attendance &

Offerings

KIVA UPDATE

KIVA is a non-profit organiza-

tion that works to provide

loans to people who have no

access to traditional banking systems.

It has been my privilege to manage the KIVA ac-

count for our church. I have tried to target the

very poor who require small loans, regardless of

religious beliefs, gender, or ethnic background. A

couple of years ago we had a Mission Pot desig-

nated for KIVA. Our first loan went to Neffer Vio-

leta from Ecuador to purchase chickens. This

loan was paid off in a timely manner.

Our second loan went to Brett from Kenya to pur-

chase a cow. This loan too was paid in full. Our

third loan went to Emmanuel from Ghana to pur-

chase craft materials. His loan was recently paid

in full allowing me to make a fourth loan to Teing

from Cambodia.

She will purchase fertilizer, insecticide, and seed

for her farm. She is 35, married and has three

children. The annual income in Cambodia is

$2600 per year. With this loan she hopes to in-

crease her crop yield and make a better life for

her family and to help keep her children in

school.

Our average loans amount to $225.00 and takes

10 to 12 months to be repaid. It has been a joy

for me to follow these individuals as they repay

their loans. (www.kiva.org)

Peggy Lambert

Page 7

Our Pinterest event was well attended and very interesting. We had someone

from Ben Franklin show us how to make mesh wreaths.

****Bake Sale****** We are baking desserts for the Odell Lions Club

OCTOBER 19. This is a money making project for UMW Missions. Please bake

us one (or several items). Let me know what you will do for us. Also we need workers for that morning.

Baked items will need to be at the church by 5:00 on Friday October 18. Thanks.

There will be a general meeting in November on the Monday that the Disciple Classes do not have class.

Please mark this on your calendar. Ladies this is a very important meeting.

Check our the meeting times for the three circles we have active now. We need you!!!

New Small Group Study:

Beginning in late October, Pastor Jim will lead a new small group study called

Three Simple Questions. This study is based upon a book of the same name writ-

ten by retired Methodist Bishop Reuben Job, author of another book many of us

have read and enjoyed called Three Simple Rules. Over the course of this 6-week

study, each one of us will discover our own answers to these three simple ques-

tions:

Who is God?

Who am I?

Who are we together?

These three questions may sound simple, but they are very important because

they impact how we live, what we believe, and how we relate to other people. As

we find answers to these questions, we will also take time to explore new methods of prayer and several

unique spiritual practices. Bishop Job's book, Three Simple Questions, is suggested reading for each at-

tendee over the course of the study. Cost of the book is $5.00. (Scholarships are available.) This is a

study for all ages (teen to adult) and all levels of Christian experience (new to long-time believers). This

class will meet on Sunday afternoons. Watch for sign-up opportunities soon.

We appreciate so much the work

that Doug Johnson did in his 22+

years of custodial work in our

church. There are a few pictures

throughout the newsletter.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

National Collection week is Monday, November 18th – Monday, November 25th. We will need volunteers

to help in many ways during that week.

Memorial’s Kick Off Sunday was October 6th. Lauren Roberts talked about OCC Shoeboxes in her chil-

dren’s sermon. We are so excited that our church is on a video that was shown on the screens.

This year’s training video for Collection Centers included a picture of Bill Measmer, Dick and Shirley Sivula

packing boxes, and Pastor Jim marking numbers on the cases before they are loaded on the trucks.

We hope that you will get involved in the excitement of Operation Christmas Child. Each box can bring

joy and the Good News of Jesus Christ to a child in need

of hope.

Prayer is one of the most important parts of this ministry.

Please pray that God will use every box as an opportunity

for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with children and

their families. Wayne & Jean Anderson

LOVE BUCKET RECALL

We are recalling any aged Love

Buckets for refurbishing. We will

removed aged goods and re-

stock with fresh items. New

freshly stocked Love Buckets

will be available soon. Peggy

Lambert LOVE BUCKET

Upcoming Children and Youth Activities

Youth Meetings – Sunday nights- all youth

6th- 12th grades 4:30 until 7pm - includes

dinner.

We are partnering with another youth group in the community for

more opportunities for our youth. We are meeting at Mt. Olivet

United Methodist Church (if anyone needs transportation from our

church please contact me (704-281-1322). Parents you’re needed to help provide dinner for the

youth. All the youth at Mt. Olivet go to different schools throughout the area and are a great

bunch of young people, come meet some new friends.

Middle school grades Bible lesson at 4:30, Dinner for all grades 5:15, High school grades Bible les-

son at 6:15

North Carolina State Fair Trip Sunday 10/27 8:45am until 8pm.

We are planning to go to the state fair in Raleigh, NC for the day.

Fair admission, and "bag lunches", will be covered. Rides, and ex-

tras, are up to the kids. We will leave Mt. Olivet @ 9:45 am, right

after 1st service worship. We will return to Concord by 8pm on

the 27th. LET ME know who is going, so I can get our discounted

tickets, by Oct. 24th please!! Chaperones needed.....

Youth Fund Raiser UMC

T-shirts available.

$10.00

Corn Maize trip to Muddy Boots

10/13 3:00 until 7:15

This should be lots of fun!!!!!

Dawn Grant, 704-281-1322 or email dgrant1166@yahoo.com

Trustees

By now I hope everyone has noticed

how well our church lawn has been

maintained. Our previous lawn

keeper did an outstanding job as

well; however, when his mowing

equipment suffered a major mechanical failure,

Noah had to call it quits, forcing us to make a deal

with ‘The Beaver Boys’, a locally owned lawn service.

This mowing season is winding down and may be

sooner than later if rain doesn’t soon come. We’re

not under any contract with the Beaver Boys but do

have an agreement to continue mowing our lawn

through the first week in November. If any additional

mowing is required we’ll have to revisit our discus-

sion and agree on a cost.

The exteriors of our sanctuary and fellowship build-

ings have recently had a facelift improvement by

painting of all the metal railings and outside metal

stairs, thanks to Dick Sivula. All this painting was

done at no expense to us and saved us over

$1850.00 alone. Thanks Dick, you did an out-

standing job. Another improvement was the enclos-

ing of the outside pit area of the boiler room. The

vendor that completed this work made extra effort to

match up the old brick and mortar. The doors and

framing were removed with help of church members,

the concrete around the steps down was removed,

the pit area backfield with soil and grass seed sawn.

We have hopes this cosmetic upgrade will also im-

prove any water problems that have become a prob-

lem over the past wet seasons.

Just for your information, our parsonage will soon be

available for rent. We still have to do a walk thru in-

spection of this property and make repairs as

needed and have ready for the next tenant. If you

know of anyone in need of a very nice home for rent

please let one of your trustees know. Our rent costs

are $800 monthly with a $400 security deposit upon

occupancy.

Finally, the replacement of a utility cargo trailer is in

sight. We have now been reimbursed for our loss,

less a small deductable. I expect the work to replace

this trailer to begin right away. The trustees have al-

ready discussed what necessary changes should

take place to protect this equipment in the future.

If you have any church maintenance concerns

please notify one of your trustees. All uncompleted

items not mentioned in this news letter are not for-

gotten; we’re working hard to keep and maintain

God’s property and do it with the love and spirit of

the resources made available to your trustees.

Steve Lambert

Our breakfast meeting was on Sunday, October 6th at 7:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. We

had devotions, good food and fellowship as we made plans for our Fall Yard Sale and par-

ticipation in the Halloween Trunk or Treat. Watch for dates and times for each of these pro-

jects. Spaces will be available again. More info to follow soon. Kevin Crowley gave a devo-

tion from “Parables from the Back Side”, which spoke to the story of the Good Samaritan

from the injured man’s point of view, which made for good discussion.

MINISTRY TABLE

This table in located near the door in the church basement. We have containers for:

Food donations for Cooperative Christian Ministry and Rowan Helping Ministries.

Labels for Education for Schools

Box Tops for Schools – (worth 10 cents each )

Plastic bottle caps from any type container – For Lids for Kids -see Dawn Grant for details

Used glasses and cases – For Lion’s Club – see Bill Measmer

Cell phones for CVAN

TRUNK OR TREAT

FUN Fill in the blank

DRESSUP

FUN

CANDY

POPCORN

TRUNK

TREAT

COSTUMES

CHURCH

CANDYCORN

PUMPKINS

C

C

D R

D

P

K

S

T

N

P

R

Trunk or Treat coming up on 10/31 starts at dusk until 7:45. Cars here by 5pm.

Hot dogs, popcorn and lots of fun for kids of ALL ages: infant to senior kids. We need lots of decorated

cars, volunteers in costume and LOADS of candy. We are providing a safe place for

children to come and enjoy some fun with their families.

Please sign up for either candy or to volunteer. Or you could sponsor a car for $25.

Last year we served over 400 people, so please start bringing in your candy donations

now. Have you figured out your costume yet????

I hope you will be able to join in the fun. If you have any concerns about transportation

or cost of the trips please contact me. Do not let that be a factor. We are trying to grow

our youth ministry while getting to know each other and having a whole lot of fun to-

gether. I am praying for you all and hope to see you soon.

Dawn Grant, 704-281-1322 or email dgrant1166@yahoo.com

MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

1100 WEST “C” STREET

KANNAPOLIS, NC 28081