summer 2015 hat sort of strange beast is a - kitty hawk...
TRANSCRIPT
the Hawk Summer 2015
Kitty Hawk United Methodist Church
‘Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world’
W hat sort of strange beast is a “lectionary?” The lectionary is
simply a book or list of lections or readings. The word lection is derived from the Latin word spelled the same, meaning “a reading.” We also get the words lecture and lectern from the same root. (By the way, a podium is not a lectern. A podium is something you stand on. From the Greek podion meaning foot).
The United Methodist Church uses the Revised Common Lectionary (1992) as printed in our Book of Worship. Preachers are not confined to this list, nor are they required to preach from it. Generally, there are three readings for each Sunday and special day (e.g., Ash Wednesday, Christmas), one each from the Old Testament, the Epistles, and the Gospels. The Psalter is not considered a lection, but is a response to the first reading.
The Revised Common Lectionary is used in various forms by many denominations including: the Disciples of Christ, Episcopalians, Lutherans, and others. It‘s based on the liturgical calendar and covers a three-year period. Over that three years, people who faithfully attend worship services will have heard major portions of the New Testament and significant portions of the Old Testament read.
Even though I rarely read all three lessons, I tend to be faithful to the lectionary about 95% of the time. I allow it to guide me in my preaching preparation, but I will make changes in the lessons, or even abandon it all together if I believe I need to do so. There are a growing number of devotional resources available which are based on the lectionary including Disciplines (printed each year from The Upper Room) and A Guide to Prayer, both printed by Upper Room. You may want to consider one of these as a source for your own daily devotions.
There are several advantages (as well as disadvantages) to using the lectionary. 1. Using the lectionary helps the preacher avoid what has been called the “hobby
horse effect.” Sometimes preachers get on their favorite topic and ride it to death. Jo Anne once had a pastor who seemed to preach about 80% of his sermons from Romans and Galatians which, of course, do not make up 80% of the Bible.
2. The lectionary helps preachers develop themes over a number of Sundays. The Gospel lessons may focus on the theme of love for a few Sundays, the Epistle lessons may follow St. Paul’s letter to the Romans for several Sundays, the Old Testament may tell the story of Abraham or Jacob or David for a while. These may provide the preacher opportunities to more thoroughly explore various themes.
3. The lectionary follows the liturgical calendar and provides the story of God’s work in a way that corresponds to the calendar. This is evident in the two cycles of the Christian Year: Advent-Christmas-Epiphany and Lent-Easter-Pentecost.
4. Reading from the lectionary each week may expose people to portions of the scripture they have never before encountered. This exposure should be beneficial even if the lection isn’t used as the basis of the sermon preached.
Sunday after Sunday, as the scriptures are read and the Word proclaimed, consider the richness the Bible provides us and adds to our acts of worship.
Grace and peace, Pastor Alan
The Lectionary:
Say what? Rev. Dr. Alan Swartz, senior pastor
What’s got this
KHUMC family smiling?
Read the next page,
and you might smile too!
The June 7 Youth Sunday participants used art, testimony, music
and dance to lead two worship services attended by 442 persons.
An unusual feature was senior acolytes (Pastors Alan and Betsy).
For full coverage, see the youth news page.
Graduates of Disciple I, III, and IV celebrate following the June 7 recognition. They are Carol Riggin, Patricia Barton, Christie McEwan, teacher George Viverette, Dick McEwan, Deb Keenan, teacher Bev Trotman, Glen Riggin, Mona Tice, Martha Meekins, and Pastor Betsy Haas. Also graduating were Peggy Bryson, Gail Culpepper, Sarah Dietrich, Rick Estabrook, Billie Evans. Diane Fischer, Barbara Freezer, Len & Lynne Harris, Theresa Honeycutt, Bill & Evelyn Howell , John Keenan, Emilie Klutz and Kristine Marinak.
Donation Station: Cash from trash Please continue to save aluminum tabs, Box Tops for Education and Campbell’s Labels for Education. Local schools are using these items to buy supplies for children, and little bits add up to a lot! Deposit these items at Donation Station in the Sunday School lobby. Thank you so much for helping with this “earth friendly” project. It all benefits our most precious resource, our beautiful KIDS!
Instant Church Photo Directory is coming soon, so plan ahead! The Communication Team is excited to announce plans for a new church photo directory. In today's tough economy, Instant Church Directory Online is an inexpensive alternative to traditional photo-directories. With so many people struggling to make ends meet, the last thing we need is to feel pressured by a photo-directory company to buy expensive portrait packages for our family. We will have all of the benefits of a commercial church photo directory by using Instant Church Directory Online, a hassle-free way to produce our own directory on the equipment we already have. Our members will be invited to take photos of themselves/families and upload them to the site. Once the directory administrator approves the photo, it appears in the directory along with your information. The information will be password-protected and stored on secure servers. A free app will be available for our members to sync the church directory right to their favorite device such as IPhone, iPad, iPad Mini, Android device or Kindle Fire. For those without access to electronic communication devices we will provide volunteers to take the photo for you. And if you prefer a printed directory, we will make a copy for you at cost Volunteers are needed to help with this project. If you’ll have time in August/September to get involved, please contact Lola Hilton at [email protected] or Lainie Reed at [email protected]. Look for more information in the church bulletin and the church weekly email news “Staying Connected.”
August registration
Fall Bible Studies promise weeks of spiritual growth
Rev. Betsy Haas, associate pastor
Even though it is hot, hot, hot outside right now, it is time to start thinking about Fall Bible Studies and where you might find a place to seek God in his Holy Word. We have a tentative plan in place, and the final schedule will be published in August. Registration for all classes will begin the second week in August, so watch your church bulletin for your sign-up opportunity. All classes start with an orientation session where you pay fees and receive your workbook. Here is a TENTATIVE schedule: Tuesday morning
Building Better Moms: Our new young Moms fellowship small group. This group will meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays.
Women's Bible Study: This group will meet every Tuesday. A variety of short-term studies such as those of Angela Thomas and Beth Moore will be available this year.
Wednesday morning
Disciple 1 Fast Track: A 26-week study of Genesis to Revelation for busy people.
Disciple 4: A 32-week study on OT writings, the Gospel of John, the Epistles of John, James, Jude and Revelation. You must have completed Disciple 1 to register for this class.
Tuesday night
Covenant Bible Study: an in-depth group Bible Study taught in 8-week segments.
Thursday night
Stephen Ministry class, for qualified candidates who wish to be commissioned as a Stephen Minister after 50 hours of caregiving training.
If you are being called by God to lead a weekday Bible Study, there is room for you on the schedule! Just contact Pastor Betsy at [email protected].
We have revived the
tradition of displaying a
rosebud to celebrate the
birth or adoption of a child
into our church family.
Expectant parents, please
call the church office with
news of the child’s arrival
and permission to announce
the event in the Sunday
bulletin.
Six new Stephen Ministers join program, extending lay ministry reach of KHUMC
Six more KHUMC members have completed 50 hours of training to join the 12 Stephen Ministers already serving their congregation and community. The new class was commissioned by Pastors Alan Swartz and Betsy Haas at a ceremony with members of their church family at the Spirit Café on May 12. Stephen Ministry became an official program at Kitty Hawk United Methodist Church in 2012. The next year, the first class of 12 members and 3 Stephen Leaders were commissioned. This supervised lay ministry provides one-to-one Christian care to individuals facing life challenges or difficulties. Stephen Ministers are caring Christian friends who listen, understand, accept, and pray for and with people who are working through a crisis or a tough time. The identity of those receiving care and what takes place in each caring relationship remains private. Stephen Ministry is a national program with over 12,000 congregations representing 170 Christian denominations and come from all 50 states, 10 Canadian provinces, and 24 countries. For more information, contact the church office at 252-261-2062.
The second KHUMC “class” of Stephen Ministers celebrates completion of 50 hours of training. They are Rubert Wilson, Roxie Valdivieso, Dick McEwan, Bev Trotman, Elaine Perkovich and Linda Watts.
Samuel Beacham, son of Loui and Tim Beacham, has earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Samuel’s Eagle Scout project was building a handicap ramp for the Church office. He decided on this project when Pastor Betsy had her foot in a cast and was unable to get into the Church offices. Samuel, a lifelong member of KHUMC who was baptized and confirmed here, has been a Scout since 2004.
Our turn to staff the Food Pantry the week of August 17
A sign-up sheet is on the Mission
Board. Please sign up the day you can
work. We will notify all those who sign
up a week before you are scheduled. If
you have any questions, please speak
with Mona Tice.
Lacy Pfeiffer is an amazing young Christian woman who is committed to bringing Christ to others through her work at Campus Outreach Short-Term International (CO STINT). CO STINT is a non-profit organization that provides a short-term missions experience to produce life-long laborers in, through and beyond CO graduates, especially among unreached people. The organization wants to see college graduates launched into parts of the world where the Gospel remains unknown. The bridge diagram behind Lacy in the photograph below illustrates the separation between man and God because of sin and how Jesus bridges the gap between man and God. The verse used is Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." Because of the Al-Shabaab terrorist attack in April at a Kenyan college and increasingly heightened Boko Haram tensions in Nigeria and elsewhere, many missionaries such as Lacy have been returned to stateside by their sponsoring organizations. To support Lacy and the work she does, you may make a one-time pledge or a monthly financial commitment at CO STINT, 2335-114 Presidential Dr., Durham, NC 27703. Make checks payable to CO STINT with Lacy Pfeiffer in the memo.
Lacy Pfeiffer, a young missionary whom our church financially supports, demonstrates an illustration to the Seekers Sunday School class that she used while sharing the gospel with Kenyan students.
Lacy Pfeiffer: Missionary
to a post-9/11 world
Kathy Weeks, youth director
Youth update
Youth Mission Week June 22-26;
"Meet At The Beach" continues
This summer marked the fourth year of our OBX Youth Mission Week. Many of our youth committed a week of their summer vacation to volunteer for their community June 22-26. Youth look forward to this special time each year when they grab the opportunity to do missions such as helping at the animal shelters, Food For Thought, Dare Challenge, local non-profit thrift stores, Food Pantry, and more. Youth began their traditional summer Monday "Meet At The Beach" UMYF meetings on June 29. All youth in grades 6-12 are invited to gather at the Kitty Hawk Public Beach Access beside Black Pelican Restaurant at 3 p.m. for fellowship, water sports, and fun! The church bus will return youth to the Church at 6 p.m. for pizza and Spirit Café at 7 p.m.. In inclement weather, youth will meet in the Youth Lounge for movies and games. Talents, skills, enthusiasm, confidence, diligence and—most importantly—faith of more than 30 youth fully enhanced our recent Youth Sunday 2015 and made it one of our most remarkable and memorable services! The unique singing, dance, art, instrumentals, photography, sermons, prayers, and testimonies blessed a large congregation in many ways at both services on May 31. In honor of the theme "180° Life Change & Repentance" stunning reflective art was painted by one of our youth during the service and sold as a fundraiser to support the Dare Challenge rehabilitation program. Youth also presented numerous delightful solos including a song that was written by one of our youth. Our middle school youth who are band students provided a beautiful instrumental prelude and several
youth offered a reverent liturgical dance at the closing of the service. Three of our high school seniors shared their spiritual journeys and another youth spoke about repentance. Butterflies were given to the congregation as a reminder that we humans also need God's help to remove our ugliness and make us beautiful! This was truly a tremendous day of blessings and, of course, as expected with youth, they wanted to include a little comic relief also. Consequently they asked Pastor Betsy and Pastor Alan to serve as acolytes for Youth Sunday services, and it actually did turn out to be quite comical!
After the services, a delicious luncheon, prepared by High Cotton, was served in the Fellowship Hall to the high school seniors and their families. A total of 45 attended this wonderful time of fellowship and excitement of our seniors, all of whom will be attending college in the fall.
Eleven graduating high school seniors were recognized during Youth
Sunday and presented a Bible from our church. Six of these seniors who
applied also were presented the Virgie Cox Memorial Scholarship in the
amount of $1,200. Three of our returning college sophomores also are
receiving the Cox Scholarship for the 2015-16 school year.
Youth met at the church early each morning to pack
their lunches for the day before heading out to serve
others. Each day ended back at the Church where
youth shared their mission experience and “God
moments.” On the day pictured here, youth
remained at the church to wash the church bus and
detail Sanctuary upholstery and wood.
KFC and SURF learn about communion.
Last month our K -5 th graders had a very meaningful lesson as they learned about the significance of holy communion. Children even helped bake their own bread for communion, that they were later served by Pastor Betsy at the end of the lesson. Parents, please remember that children are always invited and encouraged to participate in Holy Communion at KHUMC.
Ann Ball, preschool director
Preschool news
33 graduate to kindergarten; program to serve 91 in fall
We hope that everyone has had a wonderful and relaxing summer vacation and you’re all as excited as we are to welcome many new faces, and returning faces to the 2015-2016 Preschool year! Our teachers will be returning ready to hit the ground running for Preschool Open House on Friday, September 11. Students return for their first day of Preschool on Monday, September 14. The Preschool welcomes 21 new families and 70 returning families. That’s a total of 91 children enrolled! We continue to be blessed with wonderful preschool and church families who offer support and guidance for our program. Many of our new families were led to us because of our highly regarded reputation for providing a learning environment that is developmentally appropriate and based upon Christian principles. We look forward to getting to know each child, their family, and all of the many blessings they have to offer in the coming months.
Children’s ministries
VBS staff covets your prayers; Sunday School reorganization meeting is August 3 at 6 p.m.
Connie McGlaughon, program coordinator
On May 20, KHUMC Preschool supporters enjoyed the 33 graduates
who performed a program for their families and friends in Fellowship
Hall. They said "Aloha" or hello to kindergarten and goodbye to
preschool. In the fall, 36 students are enrolled to fill those spots in the
four-year-old program. Congratulations to the 2015 Kitty Hawk United
Methodist Church Preschool graduating class!
PRAYERS NEEDED As we provide the “Everest” Vacation Bible School experience to the children of our church and community on July 13-17, we ask for prayers for wisdom as we plan, prayers for the many volunteers who help us, and prayers that God continues
working in the hearts of our children who will be attending.
CHILDREN'S SUNDAY SCHOOL MEETING! In an effort to stay current with newest trends in Sunday School, there will be a special meeting for all Children's Sunday School teachers (K--5) and for any parents that wish to join us on Monday, August 3, at 6 p.m. Please join us in the 4th and 5th grade Sunday School room upstairs for coffee and donuts as we discuss a new "One-Room Sunday School Concept" that promises to be appealing to children of all ages. If you are a parent of children ages K -5 th grade, please join us in this important discussion on the direction of our Children’s Sunday School program!
KFC and SURF children prepare the communion elements and participate in the sacrament after receiving instruction from Pastor Betsy.
Children’s Church July 8:30 a.m. 19 Jeni Ford
26 Becky Holland
July 11 a.m. 19 Sandy Beach 26 Abby Hewitt
August 8:30 a.m.
2 Jessica Summerton 9 Heather Cobb
16 Kathleen Wasniewski 23 TBA
30 Linda Hutton
August 11 a.m. 2 Chrissy Simmons
9 Emily Dobie 16 Joy Ogburn
23 TBA 30 Melissa Stevens
Acolytes July 8:30 a.m.
19 C. & C. Honeycutt 26 M. Godsey & I. Mann
July 11 a.m. 19 M. Peters 26 E. Piland
August 8:30 a.m. 2 T. McGraw & O. Sugg 9 E. Braithewaite & M.
Beacham 16 C. & C. Honeycutt
23 M. Godsey & I. Mann 30 McGraw & O. Sugg
August 11 a.m.
2 C. Kenan 9 M. Britt
16 M. Ogburn 23 I. Dobie
30 G. Hewitt
Kitty Hawk United Methodist Church
803 W. Kitty Hawk Road
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949
252-261-2062; fax 252-261-8633
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.kittyhawkumc.org
the Hawk editor/designer: [email protected]
Staff Rev. Dr. Alan Swartz, senior pastor [email protected] 252-455-9610 (cell)
Rev. Betsy Haas, associate pastor (part-time) [email protected]
Connie McGlaughon, program coordinator Kathy Weeks, youth director Amy Berge, administrative assistant Jayne Beasley, music director Susan Stroud, children’s choir leader Ann Ball, preschool director Allison Broughton, treasurer Rick Estabrook, custodian Worship Sunday at 8:30 & 11 a.m.; Java Soul at 11 a.m. in Fellowship Hall Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. for all ages Monday at 7 p.m. Contemporary “Spirit Café” in Fellowship Hall
Summertime on the Outer Banks brings a flurry of activity, visitors, packed work schedules and many guests at all worship services – and WMF members are riding the wave!
Team leader Ina Jewell, accompanied by Jo Anne Swartz, delivered a van-load of needed food supplies for the people of Sierra Leone to a pick-up warehouse in Ahoskie. They stopped at Sharon UMC on the way to pick up food donations from all United Methodist Women’s groups in the Beacon District – it was a heart-warming day to see dozens of 5-gallon food buckets begin their journey around the world to people devastated
and quarantined by the Ebola epidemic. Thank you to our church family for your generous donations. WMF donated hundreds of winter gloves and hats for the people of Armenia that went to Annual Conference in Wilmington, NC, for consecration and shipping to this mission field.
The Rev. Susie Fitz-Slater from Sharon United Methodist in Currituck delivered a powerful message on the fourth chapter of Esther, reminding everyone that prayer intercessors are vital, behind-the-scenes workers for the Kingdom of God. Bev Trotman and Faye Western were among the 20 women who attended the prayer breakfast at Henry’s Restaurant on May 21. WMF members served dinner to the entire church family on June 22 before Spirit Café to show their gratitude for the generous support of all of our missions fund-raisers. WMF invites all church women on Tuesday, July 21, at 2 p.m. or 7 p.m. for a very special meeting that will focus on ministry to Hispanic children in our community. Shalom!
Women’s Ministry Fellowship
Food buckets to Sierra Leone,
prayer breakfast, winter wear to
Armenia...all in a summer’s work
Jo Anne Swartz, WMF Circle coordinator