Pastor’s Message
“Absolute perfection belongs not to man, nor to angels, but to God alone.” ― John Wesley, John Wesley: A Plain Account of Christian Perfection
Bible Moths, Sacramentarians, The Holy Club: I imagine these are not names you have heard of or heard often, yet they are tied to our history as United Methodists. These titles were nicknames given to John Wesley and his friends in college along with the title “Methodist,” which Wesley would go on to make his own. The names, sadly, weren't offered in love but captured the group's methodical, if not enthusiastic, nature for growing in their faith.
While Wesley believed Christians could attain perfection (sanctifying grace) in this life through God, he also understood the strenuous nature of the road laid before those who walk in faith. He understood that it would be a journey realistically, one people would be “prone to wander” from, as the hymn "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" says. So, by instilling regular practices like Bible study, communion, and fellowship in his peers, Wesley prepared them for the challenges they'd face in service to others. Though we may not be perfect in our faith, we are never far from that same grace. We are never without the opportunity to start again.
If you want to be holier, you can do it; if you want to be more familiar with scripture, you can do it; if you want to take part in the sacraments more often, we can do it. Ultimate perfection may belong to our Creator, but God has put the opportunity to grow in faith in our hands. Let us follow in Wesley's footsteps. Let us submit to be more vile! Let us become so committed to the faith that those around us have to offer new titles to describe our devotion. Let us be Methodists!
Blessings,
Pastor Jason Leighton
COVID Update from Pastor Jason
I am sure all of you know there have been rising concerns over the increased number of COVID cases, specifically the Delta variant. The pandemic has been and will continue to be a difficult season for our community. As our leadership has considered the next steps for Calvary, we have acknowledged the reality that there is a wide range of views and concerns around COVID-19 and the vaccine(s) that accompany it.
We were also reminded of our duty to love God and our neighbor as we love ourselves in our conversations. A challenging if not at times inconvenient verse, to be sure, but still a task that falls on every Christian who wishes to emulate the love and example Christ set for us by caring for others. So, I invite you to join me in this endeavor to love our neighbors.
With the support of the Staff Pastor Parish Relationship Committee, the Church Council and I have decided Calvary Memorial UMC will return to wearing masks for any in-person activities at the church until such time that it is deemed safe not to. We will not be instituting any other safety protocols at this time, but we will continue to monitor our situation closely. In the meantime, we ask that you keep our leadership, congregation, community, country, and the world in your prayers. Peace be with you.
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are needed for ministries such as Sunday School Nursery, Children’s Church, Trunk-or-Treat, Backpack Blessings, Days for Girls, Missions Yard Sale, and Interfaith food delivery.
Sunday School Classes—Sundays at 10:00 a..m.
Spark: Activate Faith (Elementary school-age class led by Kay Barrow)
Spark: Activate Faith is a one-room program that offers lively, age-appropriate activities—including games, crafts, and creative play—to accommodate the various ways kids learn. The program moves through scripture teaching kids about the primary stories of our faith from God’s act of creation to the life and teachings of Jesus’ ministry.
Fathom: A Deep Dive into the Story of God (Junior and Senior High class led by Stanley Barrow)
Fathom: A Deep Dive into the Story of God will help students understand the key themes and storylines of the Bible. The Bible is what sets Fathom apart from all other Bible studies. The Fathom series is designed to help
tweens and teens break down the barriers of fear, awkwardness, and unfamiliarity in reading and studying the Bible for themselves, and it starts with the Bible. In a clear and engaging way, it will help the group learn where the Bible came from and how to use Bible scholar-recommended tools to understand and interpret it—tools that are utilized throughout the Fathom series.
What Happens When Women Say Yes to God (Women’s class led by Gwen Skinner)
Your job is obedience; God's job is everything else. If you've ever found yourself wondering “What is
God's plan for my life?” or “Can He really use me?”, you're not alone. Lysa TerKeurst has wrestled through those same questions. But she's also learned that we were absolutely created to participate in God's divine activity and experience His rich blessings. We just have to say yes to Him.
Through her own struggles, doubts, and honest vulnerability, Lysa TerKeurst will equip you to:
Reignite your passion for the Lord by discovering the incredible opportunities He's already placed in front of you and the courage to say yes.
Know what God is speaking personally to you with practical ways to listen for His voice.
Overcome the fear that you're not doing the Christian life right by learning that it's about perfect surrender, not perfect performance.
Apply key teachings to your own situation today with helpful study questions and reflection prompts. Get ready for a journey of joy and purpose--one that will radically bless you beyond what you can ask or imagine.
The Wesleyan Way: A Faith that Matters (Adult class led by Rebecca Barrow)
Meet the faith of Wesley . . . real and relevant in today's world. In this exciting and inspiring study, Scott
J. Jones helps seekers and believers to envision and practice discipleship as a way of life. Presenting Christianity from a Wesleyan perspective, Jones invites participants into a deeper, more thoughtful, more active commitment to Christ. This eight-session study helps participants focus on how, through discipleship with Jesus Christ, we become part of God’s work in transforming the world.
Each week different presenters share their personal faith experiences. Presenters include Adam Hamilton, Olu Brown, Felicia Hopkins, Jessica Moffat Seay, Jorge Acevedo, Rob Fuquay, and author Scott Jones. Mini-videos conclude each week with an interview or ministry story from the presenter’s home church. Participants then read on their own from the student book and the Bible and then once a week the group comes together to explore what they've read and to view another video.
Committee Meetings:
Finance Committee will meet Tuesday, October 5 at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Nominations Committee will meet Wednesday, October 6 at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Church Council will meet Sunday, October 10 at 8:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall (breakfast provided)
Trustees will meet Tuesday, October 12 at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Missions Committee will meet Sunday, October 17 at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Worship Committee will meet Wednesday, October 20 at 5:15 p.m. in the Choir Room.
Thank You Note:
Calvary Memorial recently received a $200 donation from Roy & Jerry Graves who live on Oak Street in Snow Hill. The following note was included with their donation: “We are Snow Hill residents but do not attend CMUMC. We do, however, benefit from the beautiful music and chimes you provide each day, both spiritually and simply because of our love of old but meaningful hymns. So thank you. Roy & Jerri Graves.”
Youth Activities, Children’s Church, and Sunday School
Calvary Memorial UMC will host a Trunk-or-Treat for the community on Sunday, October 24 from 4:00-5:30 p.m. Masks are encouraged, and social distancing will be utilized to provide the safest environment for this event. We need at least 10 volunteers to host trunks. There is no theme, so however, you would like to decorate would be great. There will be NO inside event if it rains on this date. Please contact Beth Ramsey at bwrncsu@gmail.com or (252) 903-0651 if you would like to host a trunk for the event.
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, October 3 and 17 at 5:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Looking Ahead for Youth: November 12-14 Pilgrimage in Rocky Mount, NC and online (nccpilgrimage.org/2021).
New and Ongoing Ministries
Missions Committee will meet Sunday, October 17 at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The Missions Committee is hosting a churchwide missions yard sale for October 2 (the rain date is October 16). The Missions team partners with Greene County Interfaith to deliver food boxes to persons who have no transportation or who have physical disabilities on first and third Thursdays each month. We use the church bus and a trailer generously provided by George Herring. If you have a heart for a much-needed ministry in our local community, please join the team at 9:30 a.m. in the church parking lot. Your help with this ministry will be much appreciated!
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 is planning to travel to Winterville Christian Church on Thursday, October 14 for a prayer walk on their labyrinth (weather permitting). Anyone interested in joining the group for this meaningful experience, followed by dinner afterward, should contact Linda Dunn for more information. The group meets on the second Thursday, 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.
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 continue October 16 from 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (the group will not meet October 2 in order to help with the yard sale). 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 canceled, 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!
Special thanks to Linda Harrell for thinking of us with her generous donation of fabric! Also, special thanks to Kay Barrow for her donation of gallon-size plastic bags for our kits!
Hope Restorations, Inc. is an ongoing concern in Kinston, NC. For more information about Hope Restorations, and its ministry, and recent news about its programs, 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.
Charge Conference:
This year’s Charge Conference sessions for the North Carolina Conference will be virtual. The Cabinet and AADSs are finalizing the details and will share the information with you as soon as possible. Calvary Memorial’s Charge Conference is scheduled for Tuesday, November 23, time TBA.