Meet Bishop Leonard Fairley
Thursday, September 9, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. St. James United Methodist Church 1007 Orange St, Newport, NC 28570
Pastor’s Message
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
—Hebrews 10:24-25
You may find it humorous to know that I googled scripture for going back to school, and the first article that popped up was Ten Bible Verses for Prison Ministry. Now you can take from that what you will. I imagine some of you might agree that school felt like a prison, while others remember it as a cherished time.
Either way, there is something to be said for this season, the experiences and the opportunities that come with a new school year. Walking around the stores looking at the supplies this year, I realized I missed school, the structure and the learning, the opportunities to see friends regularly. The sports! I miss sports. As an adult, being challenged takes on a whole new meaning often; the challenges are something we face as individuals. Rather than it being a 100 up- downs for the team or an unexpected assignment as a class, it’s an unexpected bill or what feels like 100 chores, solo.
But you know life wasn’t meant to be lived solo. Whether we will enter the classroom again or haven’t darkened school hallways in years, we are not meant to face these challenges alone. Just as the teachers are there to help their students, we are meant to be here for one another. No, we can’t do the work for one another, but we can spur one another on in our struggles. We can encourage each other in love by living into our identity as disciples.
So, whether you face the looming arrival of homework or the challenges of adulthood, know that you do not walk alone. Your friends, family, church, and God are here for you, but even more significant than that is the knowledge that these challenges will not last. The day is coming when the bell will ring, and the timecards are punched. We will find ourselves on a permanent vacation. But until then, lean on one another that we might now stress about the days ahead.
Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Jason Leighton
Service of Welcome for Bishop Fairley
A Service of Welcome is planned for Bishop Leonard Fairley at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 19 at Soapstone United Methodist Church (12837 Norwood Road, Raleigh, NC). A reception will immediately follow the service at 5:00 p.m.
Bishop Fairley was elected to the episcopacy in 2016 from the North Carolina Conference and will be our episcopal leader from September 1, 2021, through December 31, 2022. He remains assigned to the Kentucky and Red Bird Conferences while providing episcopal coverage for the NC Conference.
Hold this date and plan on attending and inviting others as we welcome him and his wife, Dawn, to the North Carolina Conference!
New Dates and Times for Sunday School and Morning Worship
Beginning in September, Sunday School classes for all ages will meet on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship will return to 10:55 a.m. for announcements and 11:00 a.m. for the worship service. Watch for more information about these plans during August.
Worship with us Live! on Facebook
Check out Calvary Memorial’s Facebook page—and “Like” it to receive regular updates about happenings at church! Live worship on Sundays at this website: https://www.facebook.com/calvarymemorialumc/
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are needed for ongoing ministries such as Children’s Church, Backpack Blessings, Days for Girls, Interfaith food delivery, and Sunday School.
Committee Meetings:
Finance Committee will meet Tuesday, August 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Church Council will meet Sunday, August 8 at 8:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Trustees will meet Tuesday, August 10 at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Nominations Committee will meet Tuesday, August 10 at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
SPPRC will meet Wednesday, August 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Missions Committee will meet Sunday, August 22 at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Looking Ahead
September UMW Circles resume meeting (TBA)
September 16-19 Pamlico Emmaus Men’s Walk (Crusader Youth Camp, Dunn, NC)
October 2 Churchwide Missions Yard Sale (Rain date is October 9)
October 7-10 Pamlico Emmaus Women’s Walk (Crusader Youth Camp, Dunn, NC)
Aug. 26-Sept. 6, 2022 United Methodist General Conference (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Youth Activities, Children’s Church, and Sunday School
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, August 15 at 5:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Looking Ahead for Youth:
November 12-14 Pilgrimage (To register for these events: https://nccumc.org/youth/events/register/).
New and Ongoing Ministries
Missions Committee is planning a churchwide yard sale for October 2 (rain date is October 9). A storage unit will be placed on the church grounds in August for those who have items that they want to place in the sale.
Backpack Blessings thanks the Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA/COME TO THE TABLE for the mini-grant of $1,000 awarded to Calvary Memorial this past spring. On July 21, our food ministry delivered our second and final summer food delivery of fresh produce and fresh meats to the seven families of the seven children who received Backpacks during this past school year. The food was delivered to the Pre-K School and families were notified to pick up the food items. Thanks to Nooherooka Natural and Relyea Produce Farms for their fresh meats and produce and to volunteers Linda Dunn and Gwen Skinner for their on-going support in this food ministry.
It is anticipated that the Backpack Blessings will commence with the Greene County Pre-K in the fall pending consultation with the Director of the School. If anyone is willing to help with weekly packing and delivering of non- perishable food items to the school, please contact Patty Herring at (252) 521-0555. The usual day of packing and delivering is Thursday but changes depending on the school calendar. The time involved in packing and delivering usually varies from 45-90 minutes.
Thank You, Calvary Memorial Church family, for your continued support for this food ministry.
Days for Girls “Sewing Saturdays” will continue in August on August 21 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 our team will not be going to Guatemala this calendar year, there is another team going that would like to take kits, so we will be accommodating their needs. Also, we will be updating the birthing kits we have made previously, so more news and needs on those soon!
Sweat Shop Supervisor Suzi is still taking donations for gallon size Ziplock bags (NO zipper closures please) and taking donations for receiving blankets also (NO fleece or flannel, cotton only, all colors accepted). ALL volunteers are welcome, and ALL skills levels are needed! Please see Suzi or Rose if you have any questions, and, as always, THANK YOU to everyone who supports this mission in talent, time, gifts, prayer, and witness!
Grief and Loss Support Group will meet on Thursday, August 12 at 6:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. 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.
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.
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 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.
Live Theater Is Back!
The Grief and Loss Support Group is planning trips to the Magnolia Arts Center in Greenville for its four summer/fall shows. Anyone interested in attending one or more of the shows may contact Linda Dunn (252-560-1465) to reserve tickets ($20 each) and church bus transportation ($5 each).
** Saturday, August 21 - 7:30 p.m. - “Ten-Minute Play Contest”
* Saturday, September 4 - 2:00 p.m. - “Arsenic and Old Lace”
* Saturday, October 2 - 2:00 p.m. - “Between Riverside and Crazy”
* Leave church parking lot at 12:30 p.m. After the show, “dutch” dinner at a place TBA.
** Leave church parking lot at 4:30 p.m. for “dutch” dinner before the show time at 7:30 p.m.
For information on the shows, visit www.magnoliaartscenter.com .
