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NEWNESS AND OLDNESS
As we begin a new year a lot of us have newness on our
mind especially with all that has occurred in 2020. We
made New Years resolutions to make a change from the
past and perhaps did not even get a chance to live them
out —to bring something new into our lives (more
devotional time, a better diet, more exercise) or simply to
remove old habits (smoking, that old diet, too much TV,
etc.). Most of the time new things are good. Everybody
loves that “new car smell,” after all, and who wouldn’t
want a “new look” or even a “new you”?
There’s certainly something Christian about newness.
One of my favorite Bible verses is 2 Corinthians 2:17. I
found something interesting in this verse: we normally
translate this verse “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation.” But that’s not totally correct. “He” or “is” are
not found in the original Greek. Instead it probably says
something like: “If anyone is in Christ: creation is new.”
Think about that for just a moment. If anyone is in Christ,
if anyone comes to know Christ and His love, creation
itself is made new. Wow. Now that is newness! When we
come to Christ we gain new perspective and new life. The
sins of our old self are washed away and we are clothed
with Christ. It’s a new look, a new you, indeed, a new
creation. It is one of the truly amazing things about grace
that no matter how old we are (or aren’t), no matter how
great our sin (or how small), no matter when or where we
are—we can be made new in Christ. It is truly wonderful
to be new.
But what do we do with the “old” stuff? Some of the old
stuff we want to throw away. We want to slough off old
habits that bring us down, old baggage that burdens us, old
sins that come back to haunt us. But there are some things
we want to keep, right? I know I’ll get a big AMEN for
saying this…but “old” does not mean “bad” and not all
“new” things are automatically good (new vices, new crises,
to name a few).
In fact, we may be one of the few cultures in the world that
doesn’t place a high value on “old” things. In other
cultures age matters—the older one becomes, the more
prominent their place in society. In our culture we too
easily go for the “new” thing in place of the old. I admit
sometimes that is what describes me when it comes to
technology. My guess is that many children who opened a
new game station on Christmas morning had to unplug
their older game station to set it up. Soon it will be just
another high-priced dust collector. I remember when Atari
came on the scene and I thought pong was incredible!
A deck of cards could occupy my church youth group for
hours, and there are no video games that can emulate the
interaction of Monopoly, Risk, or the click-clack of game
pieces in Connect Four! I know you can now play video
games live on the internet, but there’s just something about
those board games when you can say, “You sunk my bat-
tleship!” That’s an old feeling not easily replaced.
The same is true in our lives as Christians. Even as God
makes us new, we are not called to forget where we came
from or who came before us. Indeed it is quite the
opposite. The Bible itself, while a living, breathing
document, is also a fantastic work of history. It tells us
the
stories of our forebears in faith, of their successes and
failures, and it tells us the stories of Jesus. Our God may
make all things new, but this is the same God who was
present in creation and every moment in between. Our
God is a God of memory as well as hope, of past,
present, and future.
So as we begin this new year, think not only on those
things that you can add to your life to make it new. Think
also of old songs you haven’t sung in years, old things that
you did that brought you joy, and old memories that make
you smile. Like antiques, these things often grow in value
as they grow in age. (cont. on next pg.)
Madison United Methodist Church
FAITH MESSENGER
JANUARY 2021
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HANDS OF GOD FOOD PANTRY
The food items needed for our Hands
of God Food pantry this month are:
canned turnip greens, canned sweet
peas, individual packs of oatmeal, and
personal hygiene items (i.e. toothpaste,
tooth brushes, bar soap.)
Please bring your donations and place them in the
blue plastic tubs that are in the back hallway next
to The fellowship hall entrance. Thank you in
advance for your donations.
It’s been a rough 2020! There is so much we do not
want to take into 2021! Yet, maybe there is something
you can take with you into the new year. And maybe
there are some old habits you want to bring back, like
taking care of yourself, reading a good book, or reading
The Good Book. Maybe you’ll find some wisdom in the
past year that will play an important role in your life in
the new year.
Peace,
Pastor Tracy
PRAYER SHAWL NOTES
Thank you! Words can say a little when someone does
so much... Wish there were words to let you truly know
how much your thoughtfulness is appreciated. Thank
you to the Prayer Shawl Ministry! - Susan O’Shea
Thank you! Your thoughtfulness meant so
much. Thank you so much for the beautiful prayer
shawl. I will always cherish it. Your prayers and love
mean so much. May God bless your very special min-
istry. Again, your kindness is appreciated and will be
remembered. - Love, Peggy Sugg
SPECIAL PERSONS OF THE WEEK FOR
JANUARY
5th - Deannie Webb (birthday Jan. 13th)
731 Mineral Springs Rd.
Madison, NC 27025
12th - Margaret Price
P.O. Box 203
Madison, NC 27025
19th - Linda Tosto
407 Luola St.
Madison, NC 27025
Please remember these special persons of the week on
their designated week with a card or letter of
encouragement or thinking of you/birthday card.
INSTANT DIRECTORY ONLINE
Calling for Pictures of Smiling Faces! We need your
photo to place in the church directory! The church
directory is available to view in print, on any web
browser and on any Android or iPhone! No cost to
you! We can update information quickly so that you can
have the most current information. You can update your
own information in the directory as well.
To view the directory online, go to members
InstantChurchDirectory.com to log in. You will be
asked to enter in your email address as it's listed in our
directory. If your email address isn't listed in the
directo-
ry, let Pastor Tracy know so it may be added. The first
time, click on the “Create a login now” under the Sign In
button. Enter your email address and set up a password
to be sent an email confirmation. Click on the link inside
that email to confirm your email and log in with the pass-
word you just created. There is also a free app for
church members to download on their Apple and An-
droid devices.
To download the app to your Apple device, click
here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/instant-church-
directory/id589542221?ls=1&mt=8
To download the app to your Android device, click here:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
id=com.instantchurchdirectory.members
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HAPPY JANUARY BIRTHDAY!
2nd- Mike Bottoms
3rd- Bob Hughes, Robert Sharpe
7th - Martha Sharpe
8th - Pat Morris, John Evans, Andrew Brown
9th - Elyse Thomas Burke
12th - Christopher Myers
13th - Deannie Webb
17th - Holly Williamson
18th - Clint Foulks
25th - Ryan O’Connor
27th - Ava Williamson
28th - Bonnie Brooks
30th - Melanie Webb
Prayer Requests:
Family of George Dick, the ongoing
pandemic of the COVID 19 Virus,
Ron Pompeo, Ella McNeil, Doug Cardwell,
Linda Tosto, Beth Carver, Paige Carlton,
Heather Lowery Vye, Jessica Sutphin Smith,
Lisa McIver, Woodrow Wilson, Billy Sentelle,
Virginia Sheppard, James Wilkinson, Trevor Vernon,
Blake Carroll, Shirley Roberts, Kathryn Scott, Ila Hughes,
Margaret Price
Join us at 10 am Sundays on
Facebook Live
Zoom
Church Parking Lot Tuned to 93.9 FM
View the worship service on this page on our
Website, Facebook and YouTube later in the
morning/afternoon.
Madison UMC Zoom Instructions
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9781551447
Dial In on Phone with Meeting ID
Dial: 301-715-8592
Put in Meeting ID: 978 155 1447
Press: #
Press # Again when it asks if you are a participant
JANUARY SERMONS
January 3, 2021
Holy Communion
Epiphany Sunday
Revelation 21:1-6a
Blessed are the Forgetful
January 10, 2021
The Baptism of the Lord
Acts 19:1-7
Have You Heard about the Spirit
January 17, 2021
Second Sunday after Epiphany
John 1:43-51
Call & Response
January 24, 2021
Third Sunday after the Epiphany
Mark 1:14-20
Gone
January 31, 2021
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Mark 1:21-28
Can God Help my Brother or Sister?
https://www.facebook.com/mumcnchttps://www.facebook.com/mumcnchttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthaAH7tUsUer95fhBBqCpghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/9781551447tel:301-715-8592tel:978%20155%201447
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KIDS’S ACTIVITIES PAGE
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JANUARY
Sun
10:00am Worship service
5:30pm Youth Meeting
Mon
6:30pm Covenant
Group on Zoom
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri New Year’s Day
Feast of the Holy
Name of Jesus
Sat
2
3 Epiphany Sunday
10:00 am Worship Service
5:30pm Youth meeting
4
6:30pm Covenant
Group
6
Epiphany of the Lord
7
8
9
10 Baptism of the Lord
10:00 am Worship Service
3pm NP Equipping
Seminars (Zoom)
5:30pm Youth meeting
11
Human Trafficking
Awareness Day
12
13
11am The Caring
Group
14
11 am Solomon’s Porch
Teleconferencing
15 16
17 Second Sunday of
Epiphany
10:00 am Worship Service
5:30pm Youth meeting
18
Martin Luther King
Day
Church office closed
19
10am UMW Morning
20
21
22
23
24 Third Sunday of
Epiphany
10:00 am Worship Service
5:30pm Youth meeting
25
26 27
11am The Caring
Group
28 29 30
31 Fourth Sunday of
Epiphany
10:00 am Worship Service
5:30pm Youth meeting
UMYF (Youth
Fellowship
MOH (Meals of Hope)
WW (Wonderful Wed.)
UMM (United
Methodist Men)
UMW (United
Methodist Women
COM (Council On
Ministries)
FH (Fellowship Hall)
2021
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
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(336) 548-6658 • www.mumcnc.com • 110 W. Academy St. Madison, NC
27025
Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday 8:30am-1:30pm
Closed Fridays
Sunday Worship Schedule:
10am Worship Service (outside)
and on Facebook Live and YouTube
Preschool Hours 2nd Wednesdays 3rd Thursdays
8:30am-12pm Mon-Thurs. Wonderful Wednesday Meals of Hope
9am - 11:30am Fri. 6:00pm 5:30pm
Fall thru Spring (all postponed for now due to COVID)
Church Staff:
Pastor: Rev. Tracy Schumpert
[email protected] Administrative Assistant: Wendy Biggs
[email protected]
Youth Leader: Josh Follweiler [email protected]
Preschool Director: Willa Sackfield [email protected]
Preschool Teachers:
2’s - Crystal Blakenship & Jessica Yaskanich
3’s - Willa Sackfield & Deanna Shreve
4’s - Amy Owens & Nancy Powers
Madison UMC 110 West Academy St. Madison, NC 27025
OUR MISSION
As the body of Christ we
PROCLAIM the Good News of
Jesus Christ as Lord,
INSTRUCT individuals in the
faith, so they can grow spiritually
and morally strong::
NURTURE and CARE for one
another, to build up the body of
Christ, and SERVE those in
need, simply because they are in
need.
Madison United Methodist Church
FAITH MESSENGER
mailto:[email protected]
