mt. hope messenger church of august, 2018 · regular monthly meetings will resume in september....
TRANSCRIPT
Mt. Hope United
Church of
Christ
2400 Mt. Hope Church Rd.
Whitsett, NC 27377
Office: 336-697-1561
Fax: 336-697-1449
e-mail:[email protected]
website: www.mthopeucc.com
church co-pastors
Rev. Lynne Hinton (505) 220-4594 (cell)
Rev. Kristin Gerner Vaughn (336) 402-2897 (cell)
Email: [email protected]
interim choir director/organist
Ekin Ustunel
church secretary
Shirley Connor Office hours:
Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Thurs. - Fri., 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
consistory president
Elizabeth Craft
board of Christian education
Carmen Cox, director
youth director
Lisa Moser
custodian
Brenda Currie
Mt. Hope Messenger August, 2018
Your Love Letter from Your Pastors:
Our day of study, food, and film on July 28 was focused on
miracles. We talked about and studied miracles in the Bible and in
our lives; we shared ourselves as miracles of kindness with some of
our homebound members; and we watched Miracles From Heaven
as our featured movie.
Dictionary.com defines a miracle as being “an effect or
extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known
human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause and
such an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of
God.”
Some folks think miracles only include events from a past
time, that it was just the prophets and later, Jesus and his early
followers that have been the only ones to perform miracles. Some
people think we are no longer in a time for miracles. But maybe
we’ve become a little cynical. Maybe we overlook miracles that
happen every day. Maybe, in fact there is more to the miracle than
just the event. Maybe the real miracle is how we see things, how we
experience life. Albert Einstein put it well when he said, “There are
two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can
live as if everything is a miracle.”
We all rejoice when the cancer is gone, when a loved one is
healed. We call it a miracle when unexpected money shows up or
when a long-lost child returns. But maybe there are more miracles
happening every day in all our lives, we just don’t count them as
such.
In fact, I don’t know about you, but I often find it’s a miracle
that I have made it this far! It could be considered a miracle that you
survived all the reckless and crazy things you did as a child and
teenager, that you made it through college and passed all those
exams, that you found your soul mate or have enjoyed great health
throughout your life. It could be a miracle that you’re safe when you
travel and have enough to eat every day. All of life, when you really
think about it, is a miracle. Friendship and love and the very essence
of life itself, everything, when you really think about it, is a miracle.
Let us, the community of Mount Hope, choose an Einstein
way to live. Let us decide to live as if everything is a miracle. The
truth is, of course, whether we acknowledge it or not, all of life
really is!
Mt. Hope United Church of Christ
Consistory Minutes
April 12, 2018
Members present: Noral Belvin, David Blakesley,
Simon Clark, Elizabeth Craft, Bennie Gerner, Dee
Greeson, Jeff Holt, Joe Hughes, Lauren Moser,
Cheryl Royal and Linda Shue. Kristin Vaughn was
pastor present. Helen Busick was guest at meeting.
A quorum was established, the meeting started at
7:06 pm and Elizabeth welcomed all.
March minutes were presented. A motion was made
and seconded accept and motion carried.
Treasurer’s report was presented. General Fund
started with $15,219.93, receipts were $16,000.68,
disbursements were $20,608.012 with ending
balance $10,612.60. Entire budget started with
$89,859.91 and ending balance was $86,644.38. A
motion was made and seconded to accept. Motion
carried.
Co-Pastor’s report:
Had funeral for Clarine Ingold.
Jeanne Ingold to be coming home soon.
Helen Whitesell is at Ashton Place.
Keep in your prayers Wesley Reece, Dora
Moore’s brother, Larry Amick, Linda Miller
and Bob Branard.
Easter services attendance was good.
May 20, 2018, will be homecoming Sunday
and Pentecost Sunday.
Kristin’s leave starts June 10 and Lynne’s will
start a week or so after Kristin gets back.
Old Business:
Still working on bids for picnic shelter area
for driveway and electrical.
Hope to see security system set up in next
couple of weeks.
Checking into updating Wi-Fi due to new
security system. Money was approved for new
security system.
Maintenance report: Glycol situation discussed and
is work in progress. They will follow up on money
paid out for maintenance of Heat/AC system.
Stewardship Report: Simon reports Hot dog lunches
will be June – September. They will have a
community meal in October. They are looking for
coordinator for farmer’s market this summer.
Evangelism Team: Helen Busick reported for
Evangelism committee. They are reaching out to
members of church who are inactive at this time.
We have approximately 560 members on roll with
only about 250 active. They plan to have a
membership dinner later in the year.
Music and Worship report: Meeting 4-17-18 to
discuss music for May.
Personnel report: Still seeking candidates for 2
music positions. Trying to get notice out to more
people.
Meals for kids bagged Early April, will bag again in
May and June. School supply list is out for these
families for next fall already. Please help where you
can.
Dave and Bob took Urban Ministry food a few
weeks ago. This is an ongoing project.
Blessing Bag: Money needed so they can buy bulk
supplies.
Wishing Well: Ongoing project.
New Business: Church women are requesting
ceiling tiles be replaced in dessert area and
bathrooms behind stage. Trustees will handle this.
Bennie closed with prayer and meeting ended at
8:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted by, Linda L. Shue, Secretary
Mount Hope United Church of Christ
Consistory Meeting
May 10, 2018
Elizabeth welcomed all and our meeting began at
6:58 pm.
Linda Shue presented minutes. There were 2 minor
changes made. A motion was made and seconded
for the minutes to be accepted. Motion carried.
Simon presented treasurer’s report. Total fund
began with $86,644.38, receipts were $21,890,
disbursements were $19,138.14 with an ending
balance of $88,760.04. A motion was made and
seconded to accept. Motion carried.
Lynne presented pastor’s report.
Regular pastoral duties were carried out in
addition to Kristin working with Evangelism
committee as well as directing the choir.
Lynne has been working with the
Stewardship committee and has secured Dorie
Whitman as coordinator of farmer’s market
this year. She has also launched a pastoral care
committee. They will meet monthly to discuss
their work.
A new Bible Study will begin in June. The
study will be about the book and DVD
Becoming A Good Samaritan. It will be on
Wednesday nights for six weeks along with a
salad bar offering.
Philip Strouth’s father died. Memorial service
was held at Mt. Hope.
Jeanne Ingold is home, Dottie Deeter will
have chemo treatments and Karen Kirkman is
doing well.
The church will be taking up the Strengthen
the Church offering the last Sunday in May.
Elizabeth reminded everyone about the Ellis-Phipps
scholarships that are available.
Committee Reports
Maintenance and Trustees-
We discussed driveway issues to picnic
shelter. Will discuss more.
Lights have been installed at picnic shelter.
Security system is up and working.
We agreed to pay Liberty Oil one time this
year.
There was discussion about getting all trustees
to be able to work HVAC system from
computers.
Music and Worship- Still selecting music for
worship services. Ekin will be out for several more
weeks.
Personnel- Still looking for positions for choir
director and accompanist. They are getting subs for
Shirley when she will be out from June 4 until July
16. Shirley to meet with Trustees before her
surgery.
Stewardship- Will help Evangelism committee with
some of their new ideas.
Evangelism- presented by Connie Blakesley.
Several new ideas they are working on. Consistory
approved additional money for their budget to
accomplish their new ventures.
Youth, Meals4Kids, Urban Ministry, Blessing Bag
Project, Wishing Well, and Nursery are all ongoing
activities in our church. Please help where you can.
The summer farmer’s market will begin in June and
run through September.
Many prayers lifted up.
Meeting adjourned with prayer at 9 pm.
Respectfully submitted, Linda L. Shue, Secretary
WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP
The Women’s Fellowship held their last meeting in
June before taking a summer break. Thank you to
Virginia and Cleo Barker for hosting this fun filled
evening.
Each year the Women’s Fellowship nominates
people they wish to honor for their service to our
church. We do this by making a donation to the
Lightbourne Scholarship Fund in their honor
through the Church Women of the Southern
Conference. This year’s honorees were Becky
Stafford, Sue Holt and Lorena Levens. A memorial
certificate was presented in honor of Clarine Ingold.
Regular monthly meetings will resume in
September. Please join us, we would love to have
new members!
Blessings, Dee Greeson
Graduation Sunday: On Sunday, June3, at Mt.
Hope Church we honored our graduates: Zachary
Kilby, Katelyn Neal, Kaitlyn Webb, Kristen
Levens, Kraven Webb, and Ekin Ustunel.
Congratulations and may God guide you as you
begin a new chapter in your life.
Congratulations 2018 High School
Graduates!!
Zachary Lee Kilby
Zach is the son of Jonathan and Peggy Kilby,
grandson of Bob and Cindy Hamlett. Zach will be
graduating from Southeast Guilford High School on
June 16, 2018. Zach was selected as a member of
the National Honor Society and Student
Ambassador, he was also a member of the Year
Book Staff. Zach will be attending UNC
Wilmington in the fall majoring in Communications
and Photo Journalism.
Katelyn Elisabeth Neal
Katelyn, the daughter of Emily and Brain Neal,
granddaughter of Terri and Tony Staley. Katelyn
will be graduating from Southeast Guilford High
School on June 16, 2018. Katelyn will attend UNC
Pembroke in the fall.
Kaitlyn Drew Webb
Kaitlyn, the daughter of Brain and Stephanie Webb,
granddaughter of Andy and Toni Webb and Gene
and Joan Evens. Kaitlyn graduated early from
Southeast Guilford High School on January 22,
2018. Kaitlyn was an officer of the FFA. She plans
to spend the summer working before starting classes
at Southern New Hampshire University in the fall
for a BA in American History.
Congratulations 2018 University
Graduates!!
Kristen Nicole Levens
Kristen, the daughter of Alan and Amanda Levens,
granddaughter of Patsy Levens and Nancy Phipps.
Kristen graduated from Princeton Theological
Seminary on May 19, 2018 with a Master of Arts in
Christian Education and Formation, and a Master of
Divinity.
Kraven Lee Alexander Webb Kraven, the son of Brain and Stephanie Webb,
grandson of Andy and Toni Webb and Gene and
Joan Evans. Kraven graduated from North Carolina
State University on May 1, 2018. Kraven will be
spending the summer working at Camp Joy and
managing the Hagen Stone pool. He is hoping to
work at Peacehaven Community Farm in the fall.
Victory Junction has 47 new quilts! Thanks to the
Quilters at Mt. Hope Church for sharing your
talents in making these quilts and for the fantastic
job. The campers love receiving them! This terrific
quilt ministry team is made up of Cynthia Morris,
Lin Gallagher, Mary Catherine Moser, and Mary
Neese. Thank you ladies for your dedication to this
project.
Andy Open Golf Tournament: Thanks to all who
came out as well as supported the Andy Open Golf
Tournament on Saturday, June 9th! Here is a
glimpse of our fun filled day. ⛳ 🏌
Annual Gathering: Our pastors, Rev. Lynne
Hinton and Rev. Kristin Gerner Vaughn attended
the 53rd Annual Gathering of the Southern
Conference of the UCC on June 21-23, 2018. The
Conference was hosted by The Western North
Carolina Association, at the Canterbury School
located at 5400 Old Lake Jeanette Road in
Greensboro, NC. On Friday evening Clifton
Greeson and his team of chefs catered dinner for the
attendees. Music was also provided by Bennie
Gerner's group: BG & Driving Grass, Cleo Barker,
and Jason Hughes & the Hot House Cucumbers.
Thanks to all for your participation and support of
the conference.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blessing Bags Ministry: On Sunday, June 24 our
Blessing Ministry Volunteers prepared / served
sausage, lemonade, toiletry bags, snacks bags along
with clothing for those in need. We had some new
participants this month. You all were a huge help!
Anyone is welcome join us on the 4th Sunday of
each month. Departing from church at 9:30 am.
Special thanks to our Mt Hope Ladies Quilting
group who made two beautiful blankets for one of
our expectant mothers, due in 6 weeks! She was
overwhelmed by the beauty of it and the sentiment.
A big thank you to Linda Miller for sponsoring the
June Sausage Biscuits!
Your Personnel Committee and Music and Worship
Committee are happy to announce we have two new
folks on staff with us! Ekin Ustunel, who has been
playing for us since February is our new permanent
accompanist. She will be playing the piano and
organ during worship, playing with the choir as they
deliver the anthems, and assist with handbells and
other special services. We love Ekin and are so
excited that she will be joining us permanently
when she returns from her trip to Turkey. Joan
Hedrick is our new Music Director. Joan is a
graduate of Catawba College and has a great love
for church music. She will be directing the choir as
well as participating in worship planning. She
begins August 1. Look how our family is growing!
Joan Hedrick is a 2017
graduate of Catawba College,
where she studied Music
Education and Vocal
Performance. She recently completed her Post-
Baccalaureate Certificate in Music Theory at UNC-
Greensboro. Joan lives in Elon with her parents and
younger brother. Outside of music, she is an avid
reader who recently co-founded The Alamance
Book Club. She also bakes and crochets. She has
been an active choir member at First United
Methodist Church of Elon and looks forward to
serving Mt. Hope’s choir and congregation.
August 5, plan to stay with us
after worship for a potluck
lunch as we honor Dottie and
Bob Deeter and say goodbye
to them as they move to Ohio.
We will miss them greatly!
Come bring a dish and join us for a fellowship
meal!
CONSERVATORS
CENTER – Mebane, NC:
Ever hear a lion roar from 5
feet away? We are planning
a trip to the Conservators
Center in Mebane, NC on
August 25th. The tour of the
zoological park will take you on a three-quarter
mile path with a highly trained guide to help you
gain an understanding of each species’ ecological
importance. You will get to know each animal’s
individual personality and story. They are about
reconnecting you to wildlife, so every tour is a
conversation.
This is a church wide invitation, all ages.
Small children must be accompanied and carried by
a parent or adult, no strollers are allowed. The cost
will be $12.00 per person, children under 2 are free.
Let Carmen Cox or Lisa Moser know if you would
like to go by August 18th. Details will soon follow.
Boot Camp: Come join us!
Tuesdays at 6:00 pm Bootcamp
style fitness class. 💪 $5 a
class or prepay $20 for 5
consecutive classes. We will
plan on meeting in the new
fellowship hall and maybe
spend a little time outside.
*Don't forget your water &
yoga/workout mat.* The class
is led by Jane Fittante!
Our Quilting ladies have made teddy bears to
deliver to Victory Junction.
Having a tea party while they are waiting to be
delivered to Victory Junction!
“Fill Our
Box”: It’s
that time of
year again. It
seems like
school just
got out, but it is starting again in a few weeks. This
year, as we usually do, we will be helping the two
schools in our area, Nathanael Greene and
Alamance, by collecting school supplies. We need
such items as pencils, pens, crayons, glue sticks,
paper, glue, composition books, folders, etc. There
is a box in the breezeway for the items that you
bring. We are running this campaign through the
months of August and September. Thank you for
your help. Social Concerns, Brenda Currie
If you would like to go to the
Paramount Theater in Burlington
to see the play “The Savannah
Sipping Society” on August 12,
2018 at 3:00 p.m., please contact
Brenda Currie at 336-697-1243. The cost is $11.82
per ticket. We will go out to dinner afterward. If we
have enough and can get a driver, we will take the
church van. If not, we will carpool.
Quilt Raffle: Below is a photo of the quilt that will
be raffled at the Fall Bazaar and Chicken Pie/BBQ
Supper. Tickets are available from Cynthia Morris.
Also, the quilting ladies will be at each of the
remaining Farmers’ Markets to sell tickets. The
beautiful hand embroidering on the quilt was done
by Mary Catherine Moser.
Thank you: I want to thank all my church family
and friends and especially the wonderful members
of the choir and music committee for giving me the
beautiful plaque and the Women’s Fellowship for
the certificate. Love, Lorena Levens
Thank you: Thank you to everyone who sent cards
and good wishes and prayers. Your kindness is
appreciated very much. Sincerely, Bettie Kime – I
wish you all a pleasant summer and always good
health!
Thank you: I would
like to thank all of
you for your prayers,
cards and well wishes
during my knee
surgery. The doctor is
very pleased with my
progress and I am
recovering well. I
would especially like
to thank you for the
beautiful flower
arrangement that was
delivered to me while I was in the hospital. It
definitely brightened my days and I thought of you
all each time I looked at it! See the picture above. It
was so beautiful!! I love you all and am excited
about getting back to work at my regular schedule
soon. In the meantime, I am not sure exactly what
days I will be coming in to work. It depends on
physical therapy and doctor appointments. I am
certainly happy to be back in the office! Shirley
Connor
Thank you: I wanted to take a moment to thank
you for your generous gift of 47 handmade quilts to
Victory Junction. Every donation we receive is
critical, because we do not charge our families a
dime for the experience of camp for their child. We
know they already have enough to worry about
without being saddled with the cost of summer
camp. Why is a week of camp so important? The
kids we care for have lives filled with limitations
and boundaries, so when they come to Victory
Junction they face fun challenges and discover just
how resilient they are. It’s not just about playing
games, it is about helping children learn more about
their abilities and what they can do. That boost to
self-esteem, the building of their determination is
what campers take with them along with memories
of an amazing week. That’s what you have helped
provide and we appreciate it a great deal.
With gratitude, Chad A. Coltrane, Chief
Executive Officer
PS – If you’d like to introduce someone to Victory
Junction please send tom to victoryjunction.org
Gift date: 5/25/2018 – Thank you all!
Thank you: Dear Friends at Mount Hope UCC: we
are very grateful for your donation of $1095.38.
You have enabled us the opportunity to bring
several participants to Special Days that would not
have been able to attend. Please know how
important this is to us. We cherish the friendships
that continue year after year. We also appreciate the
love, hours and time that Lynne has committed to
this program for over 18 years. It has sincerely
changed the life of every staff member and
volunteer who has been a part of Special Days. We
are committed to making sure our time spent with
them reflects God’s love in us all. Thank you for
displaying that in your generosity for this annual
event that is so dear to each of us – the staff, the
volunteers, the caregivers, and the participants. We
appreciate your continued support. Gratefully,
Martha Shore Director of Marketing and Finance
Thank you: On behalf of Pastor Cardes H. Brown,
Jr., and the New Light Missionary Baptist Church
Tornado Relief Team, we would like to thank you
for your contribution of $500. Your generous
donation was instrumental in helping us to meet the
needs of those impacted by the tornado. April 15,
2018 through June 8, 2018 we were able to provide:
18,300 hot meals (three meals a day)
28,315 in-kind donations
Housed approximately 70 individuals in
hotels
The generous support of many churches, businesses,
organizations and individuals was a blessing to
many. Thank you again for your support! In His
Service, Millicent N. Lee, Tornado Relief
Coordinator.
August Birthdays
2nd Alayna Woollett
5th Tiffany Needham, Clay Warren
6th Bernice Shoffner
7th Noral Belvin, Donna Cauthren
9th Josh Anzaldua, Bob Lane, Colton
Underwood
11th Colby Arrington
12th Kim Sheffield
14th Jeanne Ingold
15th Lu Eller Ingold
16th Trevor Bolton
17th Susie Simpson
21st Sylvia Gilliam, Tim Hucks, Linda Neese,
Penny Perkins
22nd Michael Craft, John Dickson, Peggy Eller,
Casey Ellis
23rd Jo Ann Gauldin, Richard Knowles, Dalton
Paul
24th Rachael Gossett
25th Glenda Slayton, Landon Woollett
26th Jaime Owen, Catherine Priesmeyer
28th Simon Clark, Alan Michaux
29th Sara Shue
30th Larry Greeson
31st Karen Kirkman
August Anniversaries
4th Haywood & Peggy Levens
E.C. & Inez Thornburg
11th Jerry & Nancy Bartenfield
Greg & Lisa Moser
19th Roger & Peggy Coble
Donald & Linda Slayton
27th Cliff & Barbara Greeson
28th Brian & Emily Neal
31st Michael & Faith Oakley
August Calendar
Wednesday, August 1st
7:30 p.m., Choir Rehearsal - SAN
Thursday, August 2nd
2:00 p.m., Classic Fit – NFH
7:00 p.m., Creative Worship Team – CR
7:00 p.m., High Lonesome Strings Jam Session –
OFH
Sunday, August 5th
Collecting for Greensboro Urban Ministry
9:30 a.m., Fellowship in the Hallway
10:00 a.m., Sunday School
11:00 a.m., Worship – Pastor Lynne
12:00 p.m., Potluck Luncheon – NFH
Monday, August 6th
9:00 a.m., Quilters Meet
Tuesday, August 7th
6:00 p.m., Boot Camp – NFH
Wednesday, August 8th
7:30 p.m., Choir Rehearsal – SAN
Thursday, August 9th
2:00 p.m., Classic Fit - NFH
7:00 p.m., Consistory – CR
Sunday, August 12th
Collecting for Urban Ministry
9:30 a.m., Fellowship in the Hallway
10:00 a.m., Sunday School
11:00 a.m., Worship – Pastor Lynne
Monday, August 13th
9:00 a.m., Quilters Meet
Tuesday, August 14th
6:00 p.m., Boot Camp – NFH
Wednesday, August 15th
7:30 p.m., Choir Rehearsal - SAN
Thursday, August 16th
2:00 p.m., Classic Fit – NFH
Saturday, August 18th
10:00 a.m., Farmers’ / Art Fair
11:00 a.m., Hot Dog Luncheon
Sunday, August 19th
9:30 a.m., Fellowship in the Hallway
10:00 a.m., Sunday School
10:00 a.m., Youth Pack Blessing Bags – OFH
11:00 a.m., Worship – Pastor Lynne
Monday, August 20th
9:00 a.m., Quilters Meet
Tuesday, August 21st
6:00 p.m., Boot Camp – NFH
Wednesday, August 22nd
7:30 p.m., Choir Rehearsal - SAN
Thursday, August 23rd
2:00 p.m., Classic Fit – NFH
Saturday, August 25th
Youth Field Trip to The Conservators Center
Sunday, August 26th
9:30 a.m., Fellowship in the Hallway
9:30 a.m., Youth Deliver Blessing Bags
10:00 a.m., Sunday School
11:00 a.m., Worship – Pastor Lynne
Monday, August 27th
First Day of School
9:00 a.m., Quilters meet
Tuesday, August 28th
6:00 p.m., Boot Camp – NFH
7:00 p.m., Music & Worship Meeting – CR
Wednesday, August 29th
7:30 p.m., Choir Rehearsal – SAN
Thursday, August 30th
2:00 p.m., Classic Fit - NFH
