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◄ The Redwood Breeze ►
Our Mission: To connect the unconnected to a community of faith where Jesus Christ transform them
into world-changing disciple.
Our Process: Love God (Worship) - Love Others (Small Groups) - Serve the World (Mission)
Redwood United Methodist Church February 2016
Join us for our upcoming Lenten worship series!
In the Gospel of John, Jesus gives us the "I Am" sayings, meaningful metaphors such as “I am the bread of life” and “I am the light of the world,” to reveal his mission and purpose. One by one, the "I Am" sayings of Jesus not only grab our imagination about Jesus' identity, they also help us to experience God, who spoke the first "I AM" to Moses. Join us for this insightful worship and study series as we learn more about the God we can know and as we seek to answer Jesus' question to us, “Who do you say I am?”
Sundays @ 8:30 and 11:00 a.m.
Feb. 14 Feb. 21 Feb. 28 March 6 March 13 March 20 March 27
Intro to the “I Am” Sayings of Jesus “I Am the Bread of Life” “I Am the Light of the World” “I Am the Good Shepherd” “I Am the True Vine” “I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” “I Am the Resurrection and the Life”
Small Group Study—Now is the perfect time to join a small group to discuss The God We Can Know, our new worship and study series during the season of Lent. This study not only will help us to learn more about Jesus’ self-revealing “I Am” statements. If we want to grow in the likeness of Christ, we must take time to study and reflect on Jesus’ characteristics. The God We Can Know study book offers a weekly reading based on biblical study and personal reflections written by Pastor Rob Fuquay. Each short DVD segment was filmed in the Holy Land and takes us on location to where the “I Am” sayings of Jesus actually were spoken. The gospel comes to life as we move from the Judean wilderness to the Galilean hills and into the heart of Jerusalem. Two of our Sunday morning small groups (9:45 to 10:45 a.m.) are participating, (Searchers & Sojourners) and welcome newcomers. To join this study, contact Pat Tolbert at pat@redwoodumc.org, or call 483-9090.
2 February 2016 The Redwood Breeze
R&R Ruminations and Reflections from the Pastor’s Study
Seeing More Clearly
I woke up at 4:30 a.m. on my birthday, as is my usual Tuesday
routine. (I have to get up a little
earlier to get ready for our Tuesday
morning prayer group/service.) I put
the coffee on to brew, and saw a
message had come through on my phone. It was a
friend on Facebook who needed help finding a photo
that I’d posted sometime last year. As the coffee was
percolating, I scrolled through photos from the past
year, and became lost in remembering all the wonderful
things that had happened in my 41st year of life:
building a treehouse with my boys, a wonderful
vacation at the beach, the celebration of baptisms in
the lake, my Korean pilgrimage, a fun-filled vacation
Bible school, the gift of a hand-knit stole from the
knitters, the birthdays of other friends and family, dates
with my wife. Taking all of this in on my birthday filled
my eyes with tears and my heart with gratitude.
I’ve noticed that, with digital photography, I don’t look
back at old pictures very often. Without the physical
prints hanging around to ask for my attention, photos
tend to get hidden somewhere in my laptop, or in the
recesses of my Facebook photo albums. Looking back
gave me perspective on the day.
As I went through the day on my birthday, I found
myself pondering the common, everyday miracles God
pours out in my life. The friend who surprises me with a
present. The random text from someone who just
wants to encourage me. The thank you note from a
grateful parishioner. The hug of a child. The kindness
of a neighbor who clears my driveway of snow. The gift
of someone stopping to lift me in prayer. The clerk at
the grocery who always asks about my kids. My wife
who looks at me with love in her eyes. God blessed me
with the vision to see and perceive the amazing
blessings which pour into my life each and every day.
When I consider the amazing grace of God that makes
these possible—the powerful love of God which
energizes every good and perfect gift—I am awed and
deeply humbled. “Every generous act of giving, with
every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the
Father of lights” (James 1:17). I feel undeserving of
such profuse and abundant goodness that cascades
down from God the Father of Lights. And yet, by the
gracious gift of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, I am
made worthy—made a child of God. Taken all together,
this makes my heart burst with joy and thanksgiving!
I never found the photo that my friend had asked me to
find. But I found something even greater: A
perspective on today that gives me courage and faith!
It’s so tempting and easy to take the path of the cynic—
to see and name all that’s going wrong, all the problems
and bad-stuff going around us—and become
immobilized by fear and timidity. But to see and live life
with the eyes of faith…that takes courage and humility.
That takes a willingness to receive every perfect gift,
and then to give our lives in gratitude. This is how God
pours out immense goodness and love in the world.
This is how God gives us the fortitude to face down the
immense problems before us. With our eyes fixed upon
Jesus, and all that he gives, we live, we lead, and we
love boldly as children of God!
Joy-filled,
Rev. Brad Dulaney
Pastor
Ash Wednesday Service
Lent is a 40-day season when Christians give themselves to spiritual renewal as a way to prepare for Easter. Make a good start to your Lent by joining us on Wednesday, February 10th for the Ash Wednesday Service at 7 pm. The service will include the imposition of ashes, and a call to observe spiritual disciplines during lent.
Please some and join us as we enter into a holy Lent.
*There will be NO Connection that evening.
3 February 2016 The Redwood Breeze
Susan's musing-
When I was in youth group years ago, I
remember going on my first mission
trips - one each year during high
school. They were to the area of
Appalachia through a Christian Ministry
called the Appalachian Service Project
(ASP) and I worked with others from my church, youth
and adults, on making homes in the mountains there
"warmer, safer, and drier." Several things happened to
me on these trips that were initially out of my own
comfort zone. I saw real poverty for the first
time. Growing up in suburbia in a middle class family
had not exposed nor prepared me for the culture and
lifestyles that I witnessed on my trip. Honestly, I
needed to be exposed to this reality. It gave me some
perspective on many things. I also had the chance to do
something real... make a real difference in the lives of
others by helping to fix up their homes in ways that
would otherwise not be done due to a lack of money
and/or time. I felt empowered... motivated and able to
use my own skills to help. The other thing I learned was
that I had skills! Yeah, even kids have skills to do many
things. All they need is a teacher or guide and some
encouragement, someone to believe in them. It felt so
good to help, and while I did, I built relationships.
You might be surprised (or not) that I have never met a
stranger! I loved meeting people that we were helping
and learning about them. Every year our work team
would fall in love with the family or individual that we
were working for. We would share stories and laugh
and be old friends after a few days. I loved this as much
as the work that we did. In addition, I loved working
with the adults in my church. Usually there were adults
who went on the trip that were not typically involved
with the youth. So, I got to meet other adults from
church that I might not have normally been hanging out
with. And after slinging hammers together for a few
days, you can imagine I got to know them fairly well,
too! I loved the comradery that developed between the
whole team, youth and adults. It is something that
stays with you after you come home.
I'm sharing these stories because you have an
opportunity to share in something just like this. This
spring Redwood will be sending a mission team to
Plymouth, NC to work with the CROSS Ministry of
Plymouth UMC. CROSS stands for Christians Reaching
Out in Sacred Service. The mission of CROSS is to glorify
God by helping preserve affordable homeownership
and revitalize the Plymouth community through
coordinating resources and mobilizing teams of
volunteers for the critical repair and/or rehabilitation of
homes. Those served are families with children living at
or below the federal poverty line, the elderly-at-risk, the
disabled, and those experiencing the devastation of a
natural disaster. Redwood will be sending an
intergenerational mission team to help with this
work. We will be leaving on Monday morning, March
28 and returning on Friday afternoon, April 1,
2016. This happens to be during Franklin County
Schools spring break week. We welcome all ages and
look forward to a fantastic blend of youth and
adults. Accommodations will be at Plymouth UMC. The
cost for the trip will be $150 for youth and $200 for
adults. Scholarships are available... just ask.
If you are interested in this trip, please let me or Jessi
Fortner know soon so that we can begin making plans
and sharing with you what additional information you
need to make a decision! No special skills are
needed. Just come and have fun! Let's go serve the
world!! I can't wait. If you don't know me... you will
see how much of a crazy kid I can be!
Susan Hughes, Minister of Community Outreach Contact Info.
Jessi Fortner (483-9090) – jessi@redwoodumc.org
Susan Hughes (493-8715) – susan@redwoodumc.org
4 February 2016 The Redwood Breeze
Redwood Outreach Center
Update:
Work has stopped temporarily on the ROC while we take careful note of what tasks are left to be done for all rough-in inspections. We are also gathering bids from several subcontractors on work left to be done to complete Phase 1 and satisfy the building requirements needed for a temporary occupancy permit for Phase 1.
Phase 1 includes use of the Main level (multipurpose room, kitchen, bathrooms, and mezzanine) and all fire-escape pathways through and out of the building (corridor in the basement, connecting the two buildings, fire-escape off the main level). Additional funding will be needed to complete this work and we are also investigating options for funding which will be presented to the church council at an upcoming charge conference for discussion and possible approval.
Susan Hughes,
Building Committee Co-Chair
Dear Friends,
I am pleased to extend our gratitude for the recent generous contribution of $150.00 to Helping Hands. This will permit us to provide emergency financial assistance to Franklin County’s most needy and vulnerable people. This is especially true in such areas of need as termination notices on electric bills, rent or mortgage issues, heating fuel, gas for going to work, motel for homeless, prescription medication, and other emergencies. In times such as these, contributions are especially timely, and we appreciate your generosity. We are grateful for your support for our mission and program.
Gratefully,
Samuel H. Campbell Director
Dear Friends at Redwood UMC,
Thank you so much for your generous investment in the good work of the Free Clinic. Your kindness helps us help the sick and hurting.
God Bless you all!
Donna Proctor, E.D.
To My Christmas Angels,
Thanks to everyone that contributed to my daughter’s ability to give her Kids presents to open. I want to also thank you all for making my Mom happy by seeing what the children got to have. I lost my Mom the day after Christmas and I am doing okay.
If it had not been for your generosity it would have been a very bleak holiday season.
Thanks again and I know my Mom is pain free and loving the afterlife.
Michelle Mull
5 February 2016 The Redwood Breeze
Jessi’s News As January wound to an ending, we
looked into the eyes of a huge
snowstorm that cancelled
Resurrection, but with that storm,
also came feet of fresh powdered
snow. This year, 2016 began with
huge transitions and changes in my
life, and the snow, while creating the almighty
disappointment of not being able to participate in
Resurrection, also brought the reminder of the pure
start we all have in Jesus. It reminded me of the
constant He has been through 2015 as in March Sweet
Briar announced its closing, in May I graduated, in June I
started a new (AMAZING) job, in July Sweet Briar
reopened, in December a relationship had run its course
and ended in my life, and in January I moved. These
transitions have all been for the best, but I would not
have been able to do it without Jesus, He has turned my
life upside down, but created a fresh start in a new
chapter. When I looked into the eyes of a snowstorm,
and had to make a decision about Resurrection, I
realized that this was my first major “adult” decision,
and I looked to Brad for guidance. After we made the
decision to cancel, I realized just how “adult” I am. I
know I am still in the transition to adulthood, and many
of my friends continue to post on Facebook about how
being an adult is hard, and there are bills to pay, etc.
but truly, becoming an adult gives you a fresh start, a
time to make your own decisions, and a time to grow
into the person you started becoming in college. The
snow blessed me with such reflection, and I Jesus helps
me keep the hope, and continue growing into the
person I only dreamed of just a few months ago.
Jessica Fortner
Director of Children and Youth Ministries
“ROC OUT” YOUTH NEWS
Super Bowl: Vote for who you think will win the Super
Bowl next Sunday (January 31) and February 7 by
bringing in canned foods and placing them in the
appropriately decorated boxes (Patriots or Broncos) in
the Welcome Center. ROC Out Youth is holding this
food drive.
It’s Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday)! Time to use up all the
fat in your kitchen so it won’t tempt you to prepare and
eat rich food during Lent. At least that is what our "ROC
OUT" Youth are doing here at the church. We will
prepare the feast. We ask that you will "Come and Get
it" so that we can help others. Tuesday, February 9th, @
5:30 pm – Fellowship Hall.
This year's proceeds will go toward our up-coming
mission trips in March and June. (Donations
Encouraged). Again please come and support the
"ROC OUT" Youth.
Mission Trip - Volunteers
Needed! Would you like join the intergenerational
work team as we travel to Plymouth, NC? We will be
working on homes for people in need in that area,
making them warmer, safer, drier. Our team will be
leaving Redwood on Monday morning, March 28, 2016
and returning on Friday afternoon, April 1, 2016. This
will be a fun opportunity to serve the world, and to
grow our relationships with each other as we do! Cost
for the trip is $150 for youth, $200 for adults.
Scholarships are available. Let us know if there any
special skills that you have. This will help our site
coordinator match us with houses based on what type
of work they need. Note that you do not need to have
any special skills! But, let us know what you are
comfortable with…
Plumbing -- Electrical work – Paint – Carpentry –
Odds and ends/general helping
Please contact Jessi Fortner (483-9090) –
jessi@redwoodumc.org
Susan Hughes (493-8715) – susan@redwoodumc.org
6 February 2016 The Redwood Breeze
As I prepared to teach my music theory
fundamentals course (basically a class
in which students learn to read and
write notated music) this semester, I
was struck by the miracle that is the
musical note, which, as the students
and I discussed the first day of class, is
the smallest building block in music. This lowly single
sound may be virtually meaningless when left on its
own (play a single key on the piano or sing a solitary “la”
and you’ll hear what I mean), but combine it with
others into melodies and harmonies and it becomes one
of the deepest means of human expression—one that
can surpass boundaries of language, culture, and
circumstance. How incredible that God would include
this sonic building block for us in His creation, and how
amazing that He has gifted us with the ability to use it to
express the deepest parts of our beings, including our
love for and amazement of Him. Being reminded of the
miraculous nature of music has rejuvenated me during
a time of year when I admittedly have a tendency to
spend a lot of time slugging through work days with my
eyes on the prize of spring break.
Being so rejuvenated, I’m especially excited about all
the musical goings-on here at Redwood this month!
There’s nothing like praising God with some fresh music
to chase those February doldrums away. The choir and
praise band continue to diligently work on established
and new music to grace the 8:30 and 11:00 worship
services, a new handbell choir is forming, and we’ll have
a wonderful visiting choir from Ferrum College on the
21st (be sure to check out the announcements on those
last two items in this newsletter). So whether you’re an
active performer or just a music appreciator, I invite you
to listen for the moment when those lowly notes join
their voices to create a brilliant whole.
Ashley Cundiff
Director of Music Ministries
Handbells
Did you know that our church owns two octaves of
beautiful handbells? Let’s put those babies to use! This
month I’ll be forming a handbell choir that will rehearse
through Lent in order to prepare music to play
sometime during Eastertide. We’ll meet in the
sanctuary Thursday evenings from 6:00-7:00 beginning
February 11th. Playing handbells is fun and rewarding,
and you need minimal musical background to get
started—being able to read music a little is helpful, but
not required. I invite interested youth and adults to
contact me or just come and see what we’re all about
the evening of the 11th! Contact Ashley Cundiff,
ashley@redwoodumc.org - (540) 797-0080).
Ferrum Collegiates
During the 11:00 service on February 21st, we’ll be
blessed with a visit from the Ferrum Collegiates of
Ferrum College. This wonderful women’s choir, under
the direction of Susan Spataro, will enhance our
worship with music throughout the service. Mark your
calendars and don’t miss hearing this wonderful
ensemble sing!
ROC Out Youth have started their own Praise Band and are excited to share their talents with the congregation on February 14. The youth have been hard at work
practicing a couple of songs since October!
Schedule:
Practice: February 3 - Sanctuary
Play @ 8:30 and 11:00 Service: February 14
Practice: March 9 - Sanctuary
Practice: April 13 - Sanctuary
7 February 2016 The Redwood Breeze
G r e e t e r s
8:30
Front Door
7– Betty Werner
14 – Danese McCabe
21 – Peggy Woody
28 – Penny LaPorta
Side Door
7– Brandi Bayer
14 – Sue McDeavitt
21 – Dickie Dill
28 – Jessica Vehmeier
11:00
Front Door
7 – Ann Altice
14 – Judy Hodges
21 – Geraldine Hylton
28 – Linda Young
Side Door
7– Gail Price
14– Rhonda Hodges
21– Louise Wimmer
28– Louise Wimmer
H e a d U s h e r
February 7 – Boy Scouts
Frank Nichols
Liturgist
8:30:
7– Boy Scouts
14 – Simon Adkins
21—Kim Weinschreider
28– John Vehmeier
11:00:
7 – Boy Scouts
14 - Tammy Manning
21 - Madeline Hall
28 – Linda Verhoeff
C h i l d r e n ’ s C h u r c h
Feb. 7—Communion
Feb. 14—8:30—Jessi Fortner, Emma Vehmeier
11:00—Jessi Fortner, Charlene Waybright
Feb. 21— 8:30—Eric & Heather Anderson
11:00—Barbara & Dickie Dill
Jan. 28— 8:30—Lori Suon & Rebecca Wyatt
11:00—Lisa Nichols & Crystal Hammock
F l o w e r s 7 – Pat Tolbert 21 – G. Abbott & N. Lynch
14 – Twyla Brown 28 – G. Abbott & N. Lynch
O F F E R I N G C O U N T E R S
1– Carol Boychuck, Yvonne Hughes, L. Waybright
8 – Ann Altice, Pat Horning, Geraldine Hylton
15 –Elaine Chitwood, Sherry Lynch, Louise Wimmer
22– Wanda Housman, Janice Powell, Ada Wray 29 – Gaye Campbell, Judy Hodges, Peggy Woody
A c o l y t e s
7 – Paige Anderson 14 – Hayley Sanders
21 – Vanessa Brinson 28 – Paige Anderson
C e l e b r a t e R e c o v e r y M e a l
February 26
Betty Werner, Ada Wray, Barbara Dill
W e d n e s d a y N i g h t C o n n e c t i o n M e a l s
Set-up 3—Sherry Lynch & Gaye Campbell
17—Ada Wray & Gail Price 24—Joan Gallante & Kim Weinschreider
Clean-up 3 – Brandi Bayer & Carol Boychuck 17—Jack & Ginny Kubler 24—Gail Price & Madeline Hall
C o m m u n i o n S e r v e r s
February 7 8:30 Service: John & Jessica Vehmeier
11:00 Service: Dave Merritt, Shelia Nichols, Pat Tolbert & Linda Waybright
Servants needed for Children’s Church: Are you interested in helping with Children's Ministries? Contact Jessi (jessica@redwoodumc.org or 540-483-9090) to see how you can help! Substitutes and Children's Church servers are always needed!
8 February 2016 The Redwood Breeze
B i r t h d a y s 2—Mike Brown (Twyla) 3—Caleb Anderson 4—Caroline Brooks Donnie Campbell Christie H. Spicer 5—Erin Maguire 7—Hayley Sanders Buddy Dillon 10—Cindy Hodges Jack Kubler Kayleigh Kidd
13—Sarah Nichols Ada Wray 14—Dennis Dickison Essyebelle Hudson Heather Powell 16—Jennifer Staker 17—Tina Young 23—Mary Jane Slate 25—Doyle Cockram 27—Ruth A. McLaughlin 28—Dustin Brown
1—Ned & Essyebelle Hudson
6—Leo & Ruth Ann McLaughlin
12—Donald & Linda Young
19 – Jason & Pat Cundiff
25 – Vernon & Judy Hudson
If you are willing to serve as an usher please contact Linda Waybright, (540) 520-6086 or call the Church Office. Thank You.
Remember Our Home Bound
Essyebelle Hudson
224 Hudson Farm Lane Rocky Mount, VA 24151
Judy Gring
Ferrum College c/o Jeff Gring P.O. Box 1000
Ferrum, VA 24088
Doris Burgess 850 Woodman Rd.
Rocky Mount, VA 24151
Nannie Kate Campbell 3855 Old Franklin Tpke.
Glade Hill, VA 24092
Essie Doss Trinity Mission Health & Rehab
300 Hatcher St. Rocky Mount, VA 24151
Chuck MacKenzie
1009 Old Country Club Rd. #317 Roanoke, VA 24017
Gracie Via
1851 Harrogate Dr. #219 Salem, VA 24153
9 February 2016 The Redwood Breeze
STEPHEN MIN ISTER MINISTRY
The Stephen Minister Ministry is preparing to grow at
Redwood United Methodist Church.
A new training class will begin on March 7, 2016 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Please join us on February 21st during either Worship Service as we recognize our current Stephen Ministers and lift up the program to the congregation.
There will be a Stephen Leader in the Welcome Center following both services to answer any questions.
For more information or to
apply, please contact:
Pastor Dulaney,
(pastor@redwoodumc.org),
Susan Hughes,
(susan@redwoodumc.org),
Barbara Brown
(bbrown517@yahoo.com), or
Linda Waters
(waters0118@hotmail.com)
Celebrating Five Years!
Yes, for the last five years, we have been able to create a safe place for people to come and find answers to dealing with their hurts, hang-ups, and habits. Thanks be to God and to those who come to
seek wholeness and also to serve as food preparers, servers, greeters, child care providers, musicians, vocalists, etc. Jesus unites us as one as we minister to each other.
Celebrate Recovery meets every Friday evening @ 5:45PM for dinner followed by worship and means and women’s small group sharing. For more information, contact Paula Ratliff at 334-1028 or e-mail CR@redwoodumc.org
10 February 2016 The Redwood Breeze
3001 Old Franklin Turnpike Rocky Mount, VA 24151
Phone: 540-483-9090 FAX: 540-483-9090
E-mail—pastor@redwoodumc.org
CHURCH STAFF
Pastor, Bradley S. Dulaney pastor@redwoodumc.org
Minister of Community Outreach Susan Hughes, susan@redwoodumc.org
Director of Music Ministries Ashley Cundiff, ashley@redwoodumc.org
Director of Children & Youth Ministries Jessica Fortner, jessica@redwoodumc.org
Worship Media Coordinator, Eric Anderson
eric@redwoodumc.org
Pianist, Lisa Edwards
Administrative Assistant, Pat Tolbert pat@redwoodumc.org
Treasurer, Dalphia Furrowtreasurer@redwoodumc.org
Nursery Staff, Rebecca Dillon
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