Guilford College United Methodist Church Non-Profit Org.

1205 Fleming Road US POSTAGE PAID Greensboro, NC 27410 Permit #146 (336) 292-5833 Greensboro, NC Return Service Requested

Worship Service Schedule for December December 22

Regular worship at 8:30 and 11:00 am Sunday morning learning groups at 9:45 am

December 24 – Christmas Eve Children’s Service at 5:00 pm

Live Nativity at 6:00 pm Candlelight Service at 7:00 pm

Candlelight Communion Service at 11:00 pm December 29

Regular worship at 8:30 and 11:00 am Sunday morning learning groups at 9:45 am

The church staff would like to wish each and everyone a very blessed Christmas as we celebrate Christ’s birth, and a New Year filled with joy and peace.

Guilford College United Methodist Church

strives to be a vibrant Christian community

that transforms lives, strengthens believers,

and equips disciples to live beyond ourselves

in the light of Jesus Christ.

Guilford College UMC

Living Beyond Ourselves

CROW’S NEST VOL. XIII, No. 24 www.guilfordcollegeumc.org December 18, 2013

Tom’s Note… December 22, 2012 – The news spread quickly that the sanctuary of Gideon Grove UMC in Stokesdale was on fire. It was determined that an arsonist

had set the fire which completed destroyed the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall of the church building. The individual was arrested in April and went

to trial this week. Standing before a judge the 18-year-old young man pleaded guilty to setting the fire. His life and future was now at the mercy of

the court and the judicial system.

In what some may say was an unusual act, the Rev. Wanda Lancaster stood before the judge and asked the court to forgive the young man. She

knew her decision wouldn’t be popular with some of the members of the church, but she followed through with it anyway. She said, “Not everyone

agrees with me and that’s Ok. But I’ve been given mercy by God and I was offering him the mercy that has been given to me. I feel that as a pastor

and a Christian someone needs to speak on his behalf. No amount of punishment is going to put the church back as it was.” The judge sentenced the

young man to 3 years of probation and 100 hours of community service. He must also write an apology and read it in front of the congregation. Since

graduating from high school the young man has been employed in construction laying-out roof trusses – and his community service will be spent

helping the church build their new edifice. Rev. Lancaster said, “this sentence is better than going to prison and gives him a chance to contribute

positively to the community.” The young man’s lawyer said his client was fortunate the judge ruled the way he did, and said, “I think it’s a good

chance his life was salvaged today. I hope he understands he’s been given a new lease on life. We are very, very thankful they took that attitude.”

In my role as Chairperson of the District Committee on Building and Location, I’ve been involved for the past year with this congregation. I know

the pain and grief they experienced when the 100+ year-old edifice they loved was gone. I’ve also heard of the pain in the young man’s life that

seems to have been the trigger behind his actions. That does not excuse nor negate responsibility, but it does help you understand. I’ve watched the

church move through a biblical process that some might find strange – but they say the young man stood before the judicial system and confessed his

actions, the church was willing to extend mercy, and the resulting sentence allows both the young man and the church to move forward. Neither will

be the same again.

I’ve wondered through this process if that’s not a model that many of us might need to follow in our lives and families. Someone chooses to allow

pain to go unresolved. At some point that pain leads to actions that set a fire that is destructive. The immediate response is anger, retaliation,

punishment, justice. But the relationships remain broken and no one can move forward to resolution much less peace. Mercy is at the center of it.

Mercy hangs on the cross every day, overlooking a gentle manger where a different way of living was born. Mercy & Peace – two gifts that may be

what some family needs most this Christmas.

Over the past year the church has gone through the process of weighing the options of merging with another church or rebuilding. It’s been a year

of searching – questioning – visioning – and prayer. From that process the church has a new mantra: “Like a phoenix rising from the fire, and the

Easter celebration rising from the ashes of Lent, so we move forward to something new God has waiting for us.” The young man may have

destroyed a building, but he could not destroy the church. Today they are a stronger and more intentionally focused family than if this had never

happened.

We approved the drawings for the new church building last week. The ground-breaking for the new church edifice is Sunday – one year to the day

of the fire. The young man will read his letter – the church will pray and extend mercy – and then shovel some dirt putting the past in its place – and

moving into the new day. I think it will be the best Christmas ever celebrated in Gideon Grove.

Caring

Prayer Concerns: Keith Gunn, Lewis Wilson, Tom Gray,

Sarah, Vaughn, Amanda Parker, Ed Price, Becky Smith; Patty Elkins, Jim Baity, Les Wray, Barry Jones, Dave & Betty Kirkman and their family; Joshua Pearce, Fran Cline, Ed Blackwell, Jack Kayler, Ilene Cummings, David Cummings, Betty Kirkman, Janel Greer; Jim Frady; families facing storms in life, the leaders of our nation and world, and those serving in the military.

Extended Family: Shannon Myers’ mother, Becky Patterson

and dad, David Fleshood; Judy Harris’ mother, Grace Buchanan; Bob Cooley’s father, Jack Cooley; Morgan & Drew Coleman’s father, Ty Coleman; Ben Brothers’ son, Robert; Patty Elkins’ mother, Ann & nephew, Nicholas; Brenda Frazier’s nephew, Blake Wall; Rev. J.C. Groce; Bobbye Shelton’s son-in-law, Glynn Boyette; our sister church in Kinanduba, Kenya,

In Home and Senior Living Facilities: Dot Acree, Don

Beam, David Bowen, Rachel Brawley, Cynthia Brown, David Cummings, Ilene Cummings, Edna Derrick, Sue Gerringer, Bob Gordon, Janel Greer, George & Nancy Holmes, Sunny Horner, Barry & Barbara Jones, A.C. Jordan, Betty Kirkman, Dave & Betty Kirkman, Colleen McKoin, Alice Ross, Tim Thames, Allene Wakefield, Les and Helen Wray

Sincere sympathy is expressed to Pam, Avery and Trevor

Beck in their loss of Mike Beck, who died on Dec. 13th.

Please keep this family in your prayers during this time of

loss and grief.

Connecting

LIVE NATIVITY on the front lawn

– December 21-24 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Please consider bringing the stable to life as Mary, Joseph, angel, shepherds or wise men. No scripts. Sign-ups in the Information Center or you may contact Donna at 292-5833 or

dford@guilfordcollegeumc.org. Let’s share the joyous news of Christ’s birth with our community!

December 25th

Birthday: Logan Woodrum’s birthday was omitted from the December birthday list. Logan will be 14 years old on Christmas Day.

Wednesday Night Out meals, and most Wednesday

Night activities will resume on January 8th

.

The Porch will not meet on December 26 or January 2. We’ll resume for the new year on January 9.

Youth News

Year in Review: Top Ten from Youth 10. Re-Creation – Richard “Chuck Norris” Blackwelder 9. Move UP Sunday – water fight kickball 8. Senior Banquet – Mike Symonds’ video made us all cry 7. KC Trip - #norts #oreilly’s 6. ASP – Radical Reversal 5. Youth choir performance on 12/15/13 4. SpiritUS – stars, ocean, He is the LIGHT in darkness 3. UMYF – Will Corcoran’s awkward comment 2. AtlantaFest – two words: TOBY MAC 1. Fall Retreat – Saturday night session ‘MOVE”

OUR GUESTS IN WORSHIP

December 8: Levi & Hyua Mlo/ Tom Waynick; Caryl Schunk;

David & Patsy Tart; Kyra Erhard; Jackie Hardcastle; Tim, Jessica, Kyra & Jacques Dalton; Drew Crawford; Patrick Ledford; Frank Williams; Margaret Griffin; Dianna Swift; Ann Fanjoy; Barbara McDonald; Grace Murphy December 15: Jerry and Shelby Crump; Steve, Barbara,

Joshua & Zachary McDonald; Frank Williams; Jeff, Gina, Phillip & Blair Dixon; Margaret Watson; Eric, Jackie, Taylor, Jessie & Samantha Morgan; Ann Fanjoy; Chris, Jodi & Shelton Knox; Jessica, Jacques, Kyra & T.J. Dalton; Ron, Barb & Sarah Arthur; Roy & Helen Allen; Peggy Conaway; Michelle, McKenzie, Cameron & Keaton Waldron; Marilyn Tastet; Kyra Erhard; Devon Tobin; R.J. Beasley; Gerald & Gloria Jean Marion; Tracey Marshall & Haven Beales

Think Toy Safety This Holiday Season This information provided by your GCUMC

Health Ministry Team & Guilford County Dept. of Public Health.

Have the children in your life prepared their Christmas wish list? As you go toy shopping, keep these safety tips in mind: Go to www.cpsc.gov and sign up to get toy recall information sent to your e-mail address. This site also has information on current toy recalls. Report safety concerns about toys to the Consumer Product Safety Commission at 800-638-2772 or www.cpsc.gov. Other precautions to take: Buy toys that fit the age of the child. All toys are clearly marked if they have small parts; do not buy toys with small parts (or allow a child under age 3 to play with those kinds of toys belonging to an older sibling.) Identify dangerous small parts. Use an empty toilet paper roll cylinder to test toys with small parts. Do not let small children play with anything that can fit into this cylinder. Inspect toys to make sure they are in good repair. Do not let young children play with toys that have straps, cords or strings longer than 7 inches, due to the risk of strangulation. Actively supervise children. Caregivers should actively watch children playing with any toy that has small parts, moving parts, electrical or battery power, cords, wheels or any other potentially risky component. Simply being in the same room as your child is not necessarily supervising. Active supervision means keeping the child in sight and in reach and paying undivided attention. Practice proper storage. Teach children to put toys away after playing, to help prevent falls and unsupervised play, and make sure toys intended for younger children are stored separately from those for older children. Toy chests should be equipped or retrofitted with safely hinges that prevent the lid from closing on a child who is leaning over the open chest; if a chest does not have safety hinges, remove the lid.

Learning

Breaking Free: The Journey, The Stories leads you through a study of the Scriptures to discover the transforming power of freedom in Jesus Christ. Themes for this study come from Isaiah, a book about the captivity of God's children, the faithfulness of God, and the road to freedom.

This in-depth women's Bible study draws parallels between the captive Israelites of the Old Testament and New Testament believers in Jesus as the Promised Messiah. Beth looks at the Book of Isaiah through the lives of the kings who ruled during the prophet's ministry. These kings exemplify many of the obstacles to freedom with which we must deal. Using Scripture to help identify spiritual strongholds in your life, no matter how big or small, Beth explains that anything that hinders us from the benefits of knowing God is bondage. Wednesday evenings – January 8 - June 11 – 6:30-7:30 p.m. – Room A6 10 lessons over 21 weeks – discussion and video on alternating weeks Participant Book $16 Leader: Vita Alligood, valligood@triad.rr.com [The Journey: Bible Understanding – Beginning, Growing & Christ-Centered Levels]

The next offering of Financial Peace University

is coming! Getting out of debt is the goal – managing your money the rest of your life with proven strategies is the pay-off. Learning to live like no one else now – enables you to live a peaceful financial life like no one else in the future. Do you need a new start in the New Year? The Demonstration Event is scheduled for Sunday, January 5

th at 5:00 pm. The actual class begins on Sunday, January

12th

at 5:00 pm. The cost of the class is $99, which provides all the materials needed for the class, and gives you access to all of Dave Ramsey’s materials for life. This is a great gift to give yourself or your children for Christmas! Contact Pat Browne if you are interested in being a part of FPU!

Discerning the Voice of God provides a personal study experience plus viewer guides for the group video sessions of this women's Bible study. Having a hard time knowing what God is saying versus what others are saying? This Bible study is designed to help participants know the voice of God: His language, character, and tone of voice. By growing

closer to God through His Word, participants will be able to discern God's voice from the voice of strangers. Thursday mornings – January 16 - April 3 – 9:30-11:45 a.m. – Room A4 6 lessons Participant Book $11 Leader: Vita Alligood, valligood@triad.rr.com [The Journey: Bible Understanding – Beginning, Growing & Christ-Centered Levels]

CHILDREN – FAITH FRIENDS Wednesdays from 6:45-7:30 p.m. in Room C15, Second Floor, Children’s Building. Children enjoy a Bible story, games,

puzzles, activities, prayer, and lots of fun! Will RESUME on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014.

ELF GANG – GRADES 4, 5 & 6 CHILDREN – FAITH FILES Wednesdays from 6:45-7:30 p.m. in Room C11, Second Floor, Children’s Building. Games, Bible story, activities, and more! Tons of fun!! Will RESUME on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014.

LEARNING RESOURCES for Sunday morning learning groups and Bible study small groups are now located in Room B5. Bible studies, books, and video series. A TV and DVD/VCR are available in the room to preview videos. Please write item(s) checked out in the notebook available.

Serving

Hands On Serving Opportunity Join us on Thursday, December 19, as we pack health & Hygiene Kits for UMCOR. These kits (which contain such things as soap, toothbrushes & band aids) will be sent to places that are recovering from natural disasters, helping folks stay clean and healthy. Some of the kits we pack may be included in an upcoming shipment to The Philippines, where UMCOR is already hard at work. We’ll meet in The Rock for refreshments, prayer and carols with the band from The Porch and then to the fellowship hall to pack more than 200 kits. Lots of hands will be needed so please join us. The supplies for these kits were made possible by the generosity of those who attended our Sweet Relief benefit last Wednesday. Between the meal, homemade cookies and UMW gift baskets, we raised nearly $1,000. As all the food was donated by the Serving Team or paid for from the budget, 100% of what you gave will be pumped back into the kits.

Food Delivery to GUM. Our total pounds of food collected in

our Bringing in the Harvest campaign was 2,258 pounds. Another delivery of food was taken last week totaling 410 pounds. What a great gesture in helping to feed the hungry!

Volunteers for December 22, 2013

8:30 service

Acolyte: Evan Crews Lay Speaker: Dave Saunders Stephen Minister: Dave Zimmerman Ushers: Austin Phillips, Captain; Dave Saunders, Terry Wert 11:00 service

Acolytes: Ty Goller Lay Speaker: Pat Browne Stephen Minister: Becky Archer Ushers: Jim Drum, Captain; Phil Black, Lauren Drum, Mark Gorham, David Grove, Paul Ingram, Nick Lindsay, Andy Manry, Michael Stone, Larry Stevens, Larry Strader Counters: Ray Harris, Bill Dowdy Van Driver: John Hanner Altar Guild: (Dec. 16-22): H’Ne Enuol, Emogene Stewart

Volunteers for December 29, 2013 8:30 service

Acolyte: Victoria Townsend Lay Speaker: Stephen Minister: Sandy Pearman Ushers: Austin Phillips, Captain; Dave Saunders, Terry Wert 11:00 service

Acolytes: Lilli Hicks Lay Speaker: Phil Colvard Stephen Minister: Florence Hardison Ushers: Jim Drum, Captain; Phil Black, Lauren Drum, Mary Gorham, David Grove, Paul Ingram, Nick Lindsay, Andy Manry, Michael Stone, Larry Stevens, Larry Strader Counters: Crystal Drum, Margaret Woodrum Van Driver Cindy Johnson Altar Guild: (Dec. 23-29): Eleanor Keene, Patty Elkins

OUR ATTENDANCE

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2013

Worship…………………………………………………………370 (8:30 – 75.…..…….…….Porch – 17..…………….11:00 – 278) Sunday School…………………………………………………185

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2013

Worship………………………………………………………… 545 (Porch – 30…………………………………………..11:00 – 515)

OUR GIVING

2013 Total Budget……………………………………….$ 966,265 Needed weekly for budget…………………………….. $ 18,582 Amount needed to date…………………………………$ 929,101 Amount received this week………………………………$ 24,410 Amount received to date through 12/15/2013……....$ 917,413 YTD difference………………………………………….($ 11,688) Free to Serve pledges………………………………. $ 1,031,343 Received to date…………………………………………$ 956,041 Loan balance…………………………………………….$ 598,115

Thank You Notes Dear GCUMC,

Thank you for your generous and enthusiastic support of

our troops in Ghazni, Afghanistan. Because of you, 30

soldiers will have a merrier Christmas knowing that they

aren’t forgotten. I truly believe the sentiment attached to

each gift is as important to these men as the gift itself.

Bobbi Peabody

Dear Church Members,

Thank you for remembering Lewey and my sister, Nancy,

with your calls, visits and memorials. It is very comforting

to know your church and its members are so thoughtful and

loving. And thanks to Tom and Matt for being with our

family during Lewey’s hospital stay and ultimately, his

death.

Lovingly, Anna Alexander

The 2014 Flower Calendar has been posted on the bulletin board outside the church office. If you would like to furnish altar flowers for a Sunday in 2014, please sign up by the date on the calendar.

Honorariums In Honor of Frank and Shirley Easterling (to UMCOR)

Jon and Kathleen Jones

In Honor of New Discovery Class

Allen and Teri Cheek

In Honor of Sarah Circle Members

Mildred R. Mallard

Memorials In Memory of Lewey Alexander

Jim and Alice Wilson

In Memory of Mike Beck Richard and Nancy Blackwelder

Boy Scout Troop #103 Jim and Crystal Drum Keith and Pat Gunn

Carol Ingram David and Becky Saunders

Steve and Tina Sumner

In Memory of Herman Coley (Doug Coley’s father) Jim and Alice Wilson

In Memory of Harold Cummings

Jim and Alice Wilson

In Memory of John Peacock (Bonnie Mooring’s brother) Nellie Clifton

Martha Johnson Mildred Mallard

Polly Scott Jim and Alice Wilson

In Memory of Elizabeth Hough (Loretta Sandee’s mother)

Terry and Joe Ann Weatherford

In Memory of Nancy Villeneuve (Anna Alexander’s sister) Jim and Alice Wilson

In Memory of Thad Wall Mary Wall

Calendar for December 22-January 4 Sunday, December22

8:30 am Early Worship 9:45-am Learning Groups 11:00 am Worship 7:00 pm Narcotics Anonymous (A4)

Monday, December 23 Tuesday, December 24

Church Office Closes at noon 5:00 pm Children’s Christmas Service 6:00 pm Live Nativity 7:00 pm Family Candlelight Service 11:00 pm Candlelight Communion Service

Wednesday, December 25 – Christmas Day Church Office Closed

Thursday, December 26 Church Office Closed

Friday, December 27 Church Office Closed

Saturday, December 28 Sunday, December 29

8:30 am Early Worship 9:45 am Learning Groups 11:00 am Worship 7:00 pm Narcotics Anonymous (A4)

Monday, December 30 Tuesday, December 31

Church Office Closed

Wednesday, January 1 – New Year’s Day Church Office Closed

Thursday, January 2 Church Office Closed

Making Disciples. We talk about that all the time. Unfortunately too many Christians still approach faith

in ways that leave them unfulfilled, disappointed, or disillusioned. Do any of these describe your life? * You are spiritually hungry * You long for more God * You are tired of status quo Christianity

* You are spiritually stuck * You are ready for a challenge * You long to break free from some habitual sin

* You want to live authentically * You are discipling others * You are ready for a fresh breath of God’s Spirit

If you answer YES to any of these, then get ready for a new opportunity coming at the turn of the year.

Beginning in January, we are launching a 6-week emphasis called “True Spirituality.” True Spirituality is not

about being religious, keeping rules, self- actualization or some spiritual formula for success. This emphasis will

get to the heart of what it means to be an authentic disciple, and help answer the five most important questions of

your life: * How can I give God what He wants most? * How can I get God’s best for my life?

* How do I come to grips with the real me? * How can I experience authentic community?

* How do I overcome the evil aimed at me?

Most believers want to grow, but don’t know how. Using Romans 12 as our foundation – our goal is to

provide a practical pathway to true discipleship and powerful faith. The principles of a disciple will be

communicated through weekly sermons – daily readings – and participation in a weekly small group to talk

about what is being learned.

Each participant will be asked to purchase the reading book and study guide by Chip Ingram, whom many

of you know by his radio program “Living on the Edge.” The cost for both is only $10. Books will be available

immediately after Christmas.

We are currently looking for 15 individuals to open their homes to “host” a weekly small group during

this emphasis. You are not asked to be a “Bible teacher” – but to simply open your home – and invite your

friends, neighbors, co-workers or church friends to join your group. Each week, Chip Ingram will do the

teaching on a 15-minute DVD. You are then the discussion facilitator for the next 45 minutes with several tools

we will provide to help you have a great group meeting. As the host, you get to pick the day and the time your

group will meet. We would love to be able to promote groups in the morning, afternoon, and evenings all

throughout the week. An orientation session will be provided to all “hosts” just after Christmas. If you will host

a group, please contact Tom Gibson ASAP and he’ll give you more information.

Adult Sunday morning learning groups are encouraged to participate in this study in addition to small

groups meeting outside the church. This is a church-wide study emphasis. Books available for $10.

Dare to Experience

True Spirituality

January 12 – February 23

Sign up to host a home group!

Try Hard. Fail.

Try Hard. Fail.

Try Harder. Fail Again.

Give up. Is this your spiritual life?

True Spirituality is not about trying real

hard to follow the rules found in the Bible. There’s a proven pathway. And it’s modeled by Jesus.

Two great giving opportunities this Christmas Eve: GUM Food Ministry

HCM Child Sponsorship