July Newsletter: Pastor’s Desk Greetings to the saints of Northwoods! I trust you and your families are doing well, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I am hopeful you are still worshipping as a community of faith, whether in the sanctu-ary or at home. Summer has finally arrived and while many are grateful for the heat and sun, most of us are rightly still concerned with COVID and the social unrest in our nation and communities. We all are impacted by the circumstances currently surrounding us. We all are still trying to make sense out of what is happening and how to plan for the upcoming summer and fall. Can we travel? Should we travel? What will school be like for our children? What will happen with the COVID pandemic this fall? When will it be nor-mal again? What even is normal? Do I feel it is safe to attend worship in our sanctu-ary? Do I feel it is safe to attend Bible studies, Sunday School, or meetings at church? If not now, when will I feel it is safe to physically re-engage with my faith community at Northwoods, in support of my personal relationship with Jesus? I share these questions of personal reflection to ask for your prayers for your pas-tor and your church leadership. On Saturday, 22 August, we will meet in our fellow-ship hall to examine the current impact of COVID on our church and to plan on how best to proceed forward in ministry in the upcoming fall and new year. Due to our

current challenges and those still unknown to us, this leadership retreat will be so different from any we have had to date. We need your prayers. We need the anointing of His Holy Spirit and His discernment and wisdom. In the meantime, please know I would always enjoy hear-ing from you!

In HIS Love,

Pastor Jerry

THE MESSENGER

Issue 224 July 2020

Website: www.northwoodsumc.org

Follow us on:

Prayer Concerns

Our Men and Women of our Armed Forces and their families ,our

deployed troops, those affected by the fire at Hinson Arms Apts and

the fatality, health of all ill., Moore, Ok. Cross country students killed

by drunk driver, co-worker with stage 4 throat cancer. All those

affected by the Coronavirus.

Apollo Wilmouth , Marsha Miller, Lisa Morton, Mary Smith, Frank &

Cindy Wilson, Margaret Wilson, Geoffrey Flihan & Family, Tim Flihan

& Flihan Family, Camile Lorento, Brandon Smith, Chapman Family,

Phillips Brooks, Judy Earp, John & David Lynch, Lisa Codwise,

Gene Lamb, Brandon & Bob Flowers, Cooper Family, Ganepy Fami-

ly, Family of Doug Johnson, Rev. Jerry Jackson family, Carmen

Robinson, Ryan Given, Wanda & Nathan Howard, Family of Michael

Wilkinson, Chapman Family-travels, Angelina Burnette, Anthony

Faga, Nancy Wilkinson, Jim Bauer, Dan Amos, Peggy Saba, Made-

line Flihan, Keaton Mercer, Prayers for my sister Katherine, My walk

with God, Amanda Hovorka’s mother, Rochelle Reagan, Patty & Ned

Mercer, McNutt Family, My families salvation, Prayer for Marriage

and union of families, Craig Carroll, Danny Padgett, Healing for Kes-

terson Family, Prayers for Family, Madeline Flihan’s granddaughter,

her husband and two grandchildren, Elsie Kolp whose brother, Jim-

mie passed away, and her grandson in the hospital, Bonnie Chance

and family whose sister passed away. Bonnie Chance niece who

has Covid-19, Cindy Wilson’s son Donald, Elsie Kolp’’s nephew,

George Potter, Ed Wilkinson, Gloria Wallace, Arvid Barth.

Service Times & Activities

Sundays: 8:45 am Praise & Worship

10:00 am Sunday School

11:00 am Middle School Youth (Annex)

11:00 am Traditional Worship

12:00 pm Senior Adult Lunch (1st Sunday)

1:00 pm Hispanic Worship

3:00 pm Sharing & Caring Widows Group (2nd Sunday)

Mondays: 9:30 am Women’s Bible Study

5:30 pm Deployed Spouse’s Dinner

(1st Monday – no July)

Tuesdays: 10:00 am United Methodist Women/

Naomi Ruth Circle

(3rd Tuesday – No July)

11:30 am Men’s Bible Study

6:00 pm United Methodist Women/

Lydia Circle (2nd Tuesday)

6:00 pm United Methodist Men

(2nd Tuesday)

Wednesdays: 10:00 am Women’s Bible Study

5:30 pm The Table

7:30 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal—2d & 4th Wed.

7:30 pm Praise Team Rehearsal-1st & 3rd Wed.

7:15 pm

Hispanic Bible Study

Date

8:45 Worship

11:00 Worship

Special

Services Weekly Total

Sun-day

School

June 7

53 24

77

June 14

30 35

65

June 21

41 31

72

June 28

68

68

Average 41 30 68 70

June Attendance

GODLY PLAY®

What is Godly Play®?

Children have an innate sense of the presence of God. The Godly Play approach helps them to explore their faith through story, to gain religious language and to enhance their spiritual experience through wonder and play. Based on Montessori principles and developed using a spiral curriculum the Godly Play method serves children through early, middle and late childhood. Our class is for ages kindergarten through fifth grade. This year we will work our way from creation to the wilderness, through advent, parables, lent, Easter, Pentecost the church and the saints. We share the stories in our circle, we wonder

about them, read them in our bibles, and work in response to what we learn. Come join us!!

FOOD PANTRY

Each Communion Sunday you are invited to bring a bag or box filled with these items as a love offering. Please know that any items from the list are appreciated at any time.

For one adult (1 week of meals):

*1 Box of instant rice 14oz 2 cans of fruit 15oz

2 cans of soup 16oz *2 bx Mac n Cheese 7.25oz

*1 box Saltines 4pk 16oz 1 jar Peanut Butter 16oz

1 jar Jelly 13 oz *2 cans evaporated milk 12oz

2 cans of vegetables 15oz 1 can Pork ‘n Beans 15oz

4 cans meat (tuna, chicken, SPAM, etc) 5oz

*1 box 10 pack variety instant Oatmeal

*items we need most right now

“As we come to be fed on Communion Sunday, in turn we feed others

as Jesus would have us to do.”

LYDIA CIRCLE

The Lydia Circle will resume meeting

once the church opens up to other

ministries.

Backpack blessings has been can-celled for this year. However, we are still collecting school supplies in the foyer of the Church..

HOLY LAND TRIP

I hope you will join us on the all-inclusive Northwoods

UMC Holy Land Tour from RDU September 8-17, 2020. We will walk in the footsteps of Jesus and bring back awesome tour experiences from the Sea of Galilee, Mount of Beatitudes, Caesarea, Jericho, Mount of Olives, Bethle-hem, Garden of Gethsemane, Western Wall, Jerusalem and more.

The link to the NUMC Holy Land Tour brochure is below and you may register there.

Very Important, I want to update you on upcoming regis-tration and travel discount deadlines.

1. Invite your friends and family to join us.

2. Final registration deadline is May 26, 2020

3. You may make trip payments from now till June 25, 2020 (that's about $85.00 per week)

4. Again, only $100 can get you registered today, see the brochure link below.

Here is the weblink for Northwoods UMC Sept. 8-17, 2020 tour: http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl20090820a59422#.XRn7mOhKjIV

Here is the address for My Holy Land Blog

https://numcholyland.home.blog/

4

The 55+ dinner has been cancelled until further notice.

Trips for 2020: Call Senior Services 455-2747 for more information

New York City & Canada cruise-passport needed, 8 Days/7 nights, October 18-25, 2020, $1499.00 per person inside cabin/

$1699.00 per person balcony cabin. Registration begins June 19, 2020 and $250.00 deposit is due at that time.

Festival of Lights in Charleston SC, 3 days/2 nights, $399.00 per person, December 7-9 2020. Registration begins June 8 with

a $100.00 deposit.

Activities: call 455-2747

Tai Chi for Arthritis, Social Security 1-800722-1213 or 1-888-491-1885

Power Tools for Caregivers

Free legal and referral information call attorneys at 1-800-662-7407

Wesley Pines Methodist Retirement Home, Lumberton, NC 910-738-9691

Home Health and In home Hospice

Adult Day Care Center for Senior Adults

Senior Health Insurance Information Program

Home Delivered Meals and Transportation (Mon-Fri)

Free smoke alarms call 347-3581 American Red Cross

MobileHelp 877-933-5232 for info ask Ruth Cos

Life Alert System 1-800-993-33885

SOCIAL SECURITY 1-800-722-1213 or 1-888-491-1885

5

NAOMI RUTH CIRCLE

Naomi Ruth Circle did not meet in July due to the closing of the church activities. We are meeting in August on the 18th at 10:00 in the Fellowship hall.

Dates to Remember:

July 4 Independence Day

July 24 Parent’s Day

July 23-25 Mission U – CANCELLED

Methodist College

Fayetteville

July 27 Armistice Day

July Birthdays:

Laura Walton 7

Rev. Dr. Jerry Lewis 8

Tracy Fulks 25

Nanellen Unsworth 26

In Loving Memory:

Mary Arthur 3 (09-18-05)

Mamie Davis 17 (10-19-00)

Vera Strong 27 (04-15-19)

Helen Sumrall 31 (01-01-07)

Our next meeting will be August 18, 2020 at 10:00 in Fellowship Hall. Remember we have been out since March (5 months) and we need to catch up on our Dues, love offering and Prayer and Self Denial. Wear your masks please!

To the Men of Northwoods United Methodist Church

Gentlemen,

As you would suspect, the normally scheduled events are on hold as we deal with the pandemic. We will get

back to those as circumstances permit.

These are interesting times that present us all opportunities to step up to lead as Men of Christ. First and fore-

most, please continue to lead yourself to Christ. Find solace, comfort, and strength in the certainty of Christ. Read,

get into the Word, contemplate, and pray. Be a calming strength to your family and friends. Reach out to them; make

some long phone calls, connect, and share your calming knowledge of Christ’s sovereignty and love. Be a part of the

solution. Be humble enough to ask for help if you need it and strong enough to give help if you can. Be prepared to

support your church family, as we are prepared to support yours.

Take this opportunity to evaluate your priorities, spend some quality time with your family and your Lord,

and look forward to a great future. If we, your brothers in Christ, can be of any assistance, please let me know. Call

or text (910) 546-0815.

In Him,

Paul Funk

Tuesday Morning Bible Study

Once we resume normal ministries at the Church, please join us on Tuesday Mornings for our new Bible Study,

“The Right Yes,” by Lysa Terkeurst!” Come and fellowship as we grow together.

Doors open at 9. Session starts at 9:30 and ends at 11:15. Feel free to bring a breakfast item to share.

Childcare is $5 per family. Please RSVP to Jessica Hurst at 770-880-0918 for childcare arrangements.

Are you living with the stress of an overwhelmed schedule and aching with the sadness of an underwhelmed soul? Together we’ll learn that there is a big difference between saying “yes” to everyone and saying “yes” to God. In “The Best Yes” six section DVD Bible study, Lysa uses here signature mix of transparency, Scripture – based insight, and “been there” humor to suggest practical strategies for making wise decisions.

July 5 Available

July 12 Available

July 19 Available

July 26 Available

The nursery is always in need of supplies and we would like to ask for assistance from our church family. If you feel so inclined, these are the supplies we regularly use. Please drop them off in the nursery or you can give them to LeighAnn Swigart.

Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Goldfish crackers

Veggie straws

Kleenex Paper towels

Baby wipes Diapers/Pull-ups all sizes

Crayons

Dear Northwoods United Methodist Church

Family,

I am thrilled to be back at the preschool,

you have no idea!! Amy and I are working

on a Covid-19 plan of action. We are pro-

ceeding as if schools will be functioning as

usual. It will be a very different year. We are

modifying activities so the children can still

learn and have fun. Our enrollment is going

pretty well, especially considering we have

been out of school since the week after our

Open House. Please pray that everything

will go as planned and we can be at our

HAPPY PLACE with the children we love to

teach.

Learn, Grow and Be Blessed!

Linda

MFM There will not be a Deployed Spouse Dinner in July.

Please sign up here: Sign up for De-ployed Spouse Dinner: http://signup.com/go/YySvfGG

or

email Aaron Hunt at: militaryfami-ly@northwoodsumc.org

Once we resume normal ministries at the Church, please join us on Tuesday Mornings for our new Bible Study,

Caption describing picture or graphic

Usher Schedule

July 5 10:00 AM

Randy Fitzgerald & Rick Baldwin

July 12 10:00 AM

Paul Funk and Rick Baldwin

July 19 10:00

AM Jerry Zima & Rusty Smith

July 26 10:00 AM

Jim and Cheryl Moody

Ushers – If you cannot be there on Sunday, please FIND A REPLACEMENT and let Rick Bald-win, Usher/Greeter Coordinator know ASAP! Thank you!

2020 Financial Requirements (Note: All Calculations are based on 95 Giving Units)

Debt Retirement

Funds Required Monthly $5,165.39

Need $54.37 per month from each giving unit

General Fund

Funds Required Weekly $ 4,681.08

Need $ 49.27 per week from each giving unit

2020 Budget per Giving Unit:

$213.50 (General) Plus $54.37 (Debt)

$267.87 per month

2020 Budget + 48 mo. Debt Rtmt payoff:

$213.50 (General) Plus $89.50 (Debt)

$303.00 per month

Church Finance Statement as of June 30, 2020

Cash Available $13,081.94 Mortgage Balance $173,905.25

General Fund

Budgeted YTD Percent Used

REVENUE $246,764.42 126,734.34 51.36%

EXPENSE $246,764.42 115,320.49 46.73%

Debt Re-tirement

Budgeted YTD Percent Used

REVENUE $61,984.68 25,339.00 40.88%

EXPENSE $61,984.68 20,661.56 33.33%

Greeters

July 5 10:00 AM

Randy Fitzgerald & Rick Baldwin

July 12 10:00 AM

Paul Funk & Rick Baldwin

July 19 10:00

AM Jerry Zima & Rusty Smith

July 26 10:00 AM

Jim & Cheryl Moody

Ushers – If you cannot be there on Sunday, please FIND A REPLACEMENT and let Rick Bald-win, Usher/Greeter Coordinator know ASAP! Thank you!

The McNutt family has received orders to Okinawa, Ja-

pan, and Keith and Stephanie will be leaving NC in No-

vember. Therefore, Stephanie has stepped down as

Youth Director. If you are interested in serving as our

Northwoods Youth Director, please contact the Church

office.

Stephanie will remain at the Church as a member and

will ensure the new youth director will have the infor-

mation they need to successfully conduct the program.

Tamara Gonzalez will also continue to serve the program

as a co director.

Please take time to pray about this, and if God lays it on

your hear to serve, don’t hesitate to contact the Church.

Thank You!

ALTARED YOUTH

Our Ministry “The Table” had been suspended due to the Coronavirus pandemic. We look forward to resuming “The Table” once the stay at home order has been lift-ed.

Council on Ministry

Just a reminder the council will meet Saturday August 22 in the fellowship hall. This will be our half day retreat from 9-12 followed by lunch. This retreat is for planning ministry for the upcoming year. Since so many things about 2020 have thrown us off our “normal“ routine for ministry this retreat will be our opportunity to dream big with new possibilities for ways to make disciples. Mark your calendar for that date and start making plans and praying for God’s wisdom and direction.

Notebook Paper

Scissors

Binders (1 or 2 inch)

Folders with or without prongs (red, yellow, blue, green)

Crayons

Markers

Colored pencils

Glue

Glue sticks

Erasers

Pencil-top erasers

Dry-erase markers

Highlighters

Pencil boxes

Graph paper

Composition notebooks

Pencil pouch

Earbuds

Index cards

Pencils

Wide-ruled notebooks (red, yellow, blue, green)

Pens

Rulers

Even though Backpack Blessings

has been cancelled for this year, we

are still collecting school supplies

to be delivered to local schools.

July 2020

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Layla Tucker

2 Zach & Amy Whitsitt

3 Robert Wicker James & Mindy Peyton

4 Will Garris Ben Garris Maria Smith Julio Lopez

5 James Van Rip-er Chance Faleris

6 Donald Kinnett Haylee Siska

7 Kevin Moody Michael Powell Laura Walton

8 Jerry Lewis

9 Debra Tobias Max & Debbie Miller

10 Brad Tobias

11

12 Hunter Miller Eddie & Linda Goins

13 Richard Brown & Katie Urzua

14 Ryan Unsworth Jonathan Ful-ghum Tyler Earp

15 Linda Baysinger Logan Smith

16

17 Nicholas Pfadenhauer James Goins

18 Heather Shoul-ders Jim & Cheryl Moody

19 Alex Kolp Tom & Vicki Greenwood

20 Liam Tobias

21 22 Addison Dinsdale David & Alison Miller

23 24 Jenny Walsh

25 Cheryl Brault Tracy Fulks Emily Warren-Barth

26 Nanellen Un-sworth

27 Allison Ross Travis Autry

28 Daniel Shreckengost

29 Ann Stutler Jerry & Debby Lewis

30

31 Brianna Autry Tyler Sanger Ray Eckenrode Callie Shreckengost Joel & Alyson Schumacher

Birthdays/Anniversaries

Bishop Hope Morgan Ward…………………Raleigh Area

Rev. Linda Taylor…………Sound District Superintendent

Alexis Lopez….......…………………..Hispanic Ministries

George Chance..…………...……...….……….Lay Leader

Teresa Waugh…..…………… …..……Church Secretary

Tammy Heap …………………….……Financial Secretary

Linda Johnson…..……………….……..Preschool Director

Church

Office Hours

Monday – Thursday

9:00 am – 2:00 pm

910-346-9727

Upcoming July Events

July 1, 10:00 am Women’s Bible Study FH

July 5 10:00 am Worship Service

July 5 1:00 pm Hispanic Worship

July 8 10:00 am Women’s Bible Study FH

July 12 l0:00 am Worship Service

July 12 1:00 pm Hispanic Worship

July 14 11:30 am Men’s Bible Study FH

July 15 10:00 am Women’s Bible Study FH

July 19 10:00 am Worship Service

July 19 1:00 pm Hispanic Worship

July 21 11:30 am Men’s Bible Study FH

July 22 10:00 am Women’s Bible Study FH

July 26 10:00 am Worship Service

July 26 1:00 Hispanic Worship

July 28 11:30 am Men’s Bible Study FH

July 29 10:00 am Women’s Bible Study FH