Pastor’s Message
“A voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’” Matthew 3:13-17
There is something nice about hearing the last phrase of Jesus’ baptism: “This is my son with whom I am well pleased.” I hear that verse, and I know God is talking about Jesus, but it feels as if God is talking about me. It feels as though I have somehow accomplished something, even though it is always God who acts.
Speaking of accomplishments, though, I did achieve something recently, and if you follow me on Instagram or are friends with me on Facebook, you might have seen a picture of it. I made my first slow cooker meal the other day, barbequed ribs. They were tasty. Yes, it’s okay to pick yourself up off the floor now. I would have too as well if I were you. As I have been learning to cook, I have discovered something I didn’t know or at least never took seriously: you must let the meat rest. Whether it’s tender ribs after being pulled from the slow cooker or pork chops before throwing them in the skillet, I’d never taken this seriously, and yet it makes a difference. Who knew?
Letting the meat rest allows it to relax and the juices to redistribute, creating a more tender piece of meat. The same can be said for Christians; like with cooking meat, we may not take the practice of rest very seriously but allowing ourselves to rest can settle our spirit. Jesus’ baptism is often seen as an affirmation of his divinity—the moment when God identifies him before the crowd. But it is also a moment of rest. Before Jesus runs off into the wilderness or begins his ministry, he pauses to be baptized, to be claimed, to be identified not by what he will do but by who he is: the Son of God. We, too, are children of God, and to best live into that identity like Jesus, we need to rest. So, in a season when the world, friends, and family may expect you to be on the run, to see everyone and their brother, I ask, how will you find rest? How will you take this knowledge that you are claimed by God who is well pleased and let it settle into your soul? Because it too can make a difference, but I bet you already knew that, didn’t you?
I wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a season of rest!
Blessings,
Pastor Jason Leighton
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are needed for ministries such as Sunday School and Church Nurseries, Children’s Church, Backpack Blessings, Days for Girls, Interfaith food delivery, and decorating the church for the Advent and Christmas seasons.
Blue Christmas Service
The annual Blue Christmas service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on December 9 in the Sanctuary. This memorial service seeks to comfort those who have lost loved ones and for whom holidays are difficult. Come to show your support of those who are struggling through the holidays, and bring friends and family. It’s a great, uplifting way to start off the Christmas season.
Christmas Eve Services
Calvary Memorial will present two Christmas Eve communion services. At 4:00 p.m., Pastor Jason will lead a family-oriented service featuring a special reading for children. At 8:00, the congregation will hear the Christmas story through the traditional Service of Nine Lessons and Carols. Please join us for one of these special services.
New Online/Print Church Directory
Calvary Memorial is putting together a new online Church Directory. Hardcopies will be available once complete, but in the meantime, we are asking our church folks to send in their contact info. Follow the link below or go to the church website and click "Directory" at the top of the site; it will provide a directory form to fill out on the church website.
https://www.calvarymemorialumc.org/directory
This info is not shared with the public but sent straight to the church office on a secure link once you click submit. Pastor Jason and Ms. Rose will also be available in the Fellowship Hall following worship on Sunday for anyone who might need help filling out the form.
Sunday School Update
Gwen Skinner’s class will study Adam Hamilton’s Joseph during Advent and will resume Lysa Terkeurst’s The Best Yes after Christmas.
Looking Ahead to the New Year
At the end of this newsletter is a list of church leaders for 2022, elected at our annual Charge Conference on November 23. We are all grateful for these leaders—for their acceptance of the call to servant leadership, for their willingness to offer time and talents for the benefit of the Calvary Memorial community, and for their cheerful gift of themselves to make disciples in Snow Hill, Greene County, and the world. As we look ahead to the new year, please pray for these leaders and offer them words of encouragement when you see them.
Youth Activities, Children’s Church, and Sunday School
The Birthday Party for Jesus will be held Sunday, December 19 during Children’s Church at the 11:00 a.m. worship hour. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall after the children’s moment during worship. We will have a cake and some other goodies to celebrate.
Please bring one of the following food items to donate to the Backpack Blessings program our church sponsors:
Individual servings of fruits or vegetables
Individual servings of meats/stews (such as Chef Boyardee, canned chicken, etc.)
Ramen Noodle packages
100% juice boxes
Granola bars
Individual servings of breakfast cereal
Individual servings of peanut butter (like Jiff-to-Go)
The CMUMC Children's Committee needs volunteers for helping with Children's Church during Worship. Please text or email Beth Ramsey if you would be willing to volunteer for this need: (252) 903-0651 or bwrncsu@gmail.com
Children's church is now offered during the Worship services on Sundays. This is for children of ages 3 years to 3rd grade. The children's church time will be after the children's moment is held.
UMYF youth group (all middle and high school students) will meet Sunday, December 5 at 5:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall and Sunday, December 19 at 5:00 p.m. for a Christmas party.
New and Ongoing Ministries
Missions Committee completed a recent community project by purchasing needed items for the Greene Central High School clothing and personal needs closet. The committee also presented Suzi Shippen-Wagner with a monetary donation for her medical mission trip. The committee continues to deliver food boxes on first and third Thursdays for Interfaith.
Backpack Blessings has not started its ministry yet as we continue to wait for the "go-ahead" from the Director of the Greene County Pre-K School. If anyone is interested in helping with weekly packing and delivering, please get in touch with Patty Herring at 252-521-0555.
Grief and Loss Support Group meets on second Thursday (December 9 this month), usually at 6:30 p.m. in the church parlor. This monthly meeting welcomes participation by any persons in the community who wish to know the strength and healing that the support group offers for those who have experienced grief and loss.
For December, we will host the Blue Christmas service at 7:00 p.m. on December 9 in the Sanctuary. This memorial service seeks to comfort those who have lost loved ones and for whom holidays are difficult. Come to show your support of those who are struggling through the holidays, and bring friends and family. It’s a great, uplifting way to start off the Christmas season.
The Joy Riders need help to identify persons in the community who could benefit from a visit. Please contact Linda Dunn to put names on the list or to join in on a ride to experience firsthand the Joy of this ministry.
Days for Girls “Sewing Saturdays” will meet December 4 and 18 from 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Suzi and Rose are happy to welcome volunteers of all ages and all skill levels because there are many jobs to do! Let them know of your interest, and they will find "homework" for you that suits your interest and skill level. Although the mission trip to Guatemala for Unearth Hope has been cancelled, the 275 kits we completed will be ready to go as soon as the mission is rescheduled! Also, we will be updating the birthing kits we have made previously, so more news and needs on those soon!
Forever Young Circle will meet on Tuesday, December 7 at 6:00 p.m. at Ribeyes for its annual Christmas Party.
Hope Restorations, Inc. is an ongoing concern in Kinston, NC. For more information about Hope Restorations, its mission, and its ministry, and recent news about its program, please see the website, http://hoperestorationsnc.org/. Read more about the Duke Endowment’s support of Hope Restorations at https://www.dukeendowment.org/story/renewing-hope-rebuilding-lives.
Calvary Memorial United Methodist Church: Leadership Team for 2022
Church Council
Council Chair - Kay Murphy. Lay Leader - Stanley Barrow
Council Vice-chair - Mary Jo Nimmo Trustees Chair - Marty Morris
Recording Secretary - Rose McLaughlin Finance Chair - Bobby Nimmo
Church Treasurer TBD SPPRC Chair - Brad Krodel
Financial Secretary - Donna Faulkner Youth Representative - Nell Mason Morris
Membership Secretary - Rose McLaughlin Lay Member to AC - George Mewborn
Discipleship Ministries Outreach Ministries
Worship - George Mewborn Missions - Gwen Skinner
Children’s Ministry - Jason Leighton Scouting - Benny Coats
Search for Action - Mary Betty Kearney Evangelism - Mary Betty Kearney
UM Women - Gwen Skinner Disaster Coordinator - John Taylor
(All persons listed above are voting members of the CMUMC Church Council.)
Ministry Teams
Trustees Committee
George Harrell (2022) Marty Morris (2023) Stanley Barrow (2023) Bonnie Coats (2024)
Francis Sugg (2023) Chris Connolly (2023) Judy Davenport (2024)
Finance Committee
Finance Chair - Bobby Nimmo Lay Leader - Stanley Barrow
Church Council Chair - Kay Murphy Trustees Chair - Marty Morris
Church Treasurer - TBD SPPRC Chair - Brad Krodel
Financial Secretary - Donna Faulkner Lay Member to AC - George Mewborn
Pastor Jason Leighton
Counting Team
Bobby Nimmo Phyllis Chesson Bonnie Coats Rebecca Barrow Donna Faulkner Ricky Murphy
Staff-Pastor-Parish Relations Committee
Brad Krodel, chair (2022) Owen Dyer (2023) Jim Davenport (2024)
Judy Smith (2022) Rhonda Hughes (2023) Suzi Shippen-Wagner (2024)
Stanley Barrow (Lay Leader) George Mewborn (Lay Member to AC)
Worship Team
Chair - George Mewborn Communion Steward - Jennifer Krodel
Ushers - Jay Carraway Asst. Communion Steward - Chelsea Barrow
Acolytes - Rose McLaughlin Flowers - Janice Raper
Music Organizer - William Murphy
Children’s Ministry Team
Jason Leighton, chair Linda Dunn Nell Mason Morris
Chelsea Barrow Rose McLaughlin Beth Ramsey
Blair Conway Mary Nell Morris Gwen Skinner
Missions Team
Gwen Skinner, chair Linda Dunn Bobby Nimmo
Kay Barrow Patty Herring Mary Jo Nimmo
Stanley Barrow Rose McLaughlin Suzi Shippen-Wagner
Nominations and Leadership Development Committee
Rebecca Barrow (2022) Hal Chesson (2023) Linda Dunn (2024)
Patty Herring (2022) Mary Betty Kearney (2023) Ricky Murphy (2024)
Permanent Endowment Committee
Ossie Kearney (2022) Kay Murphy (2023) Ren Baker (2024) George Mewborn (2025)