Fair Grove United Methodist Church

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2021

Good News from the Pastor’s Desk

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also

reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly

or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)

As Christians we profess that Christ is alive and we are to be obedient to his call in serving those in need,

“For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a

stranger, and you invited me in”

(Matthew 25:35).

Helping others can sometimes become more than a desire. It can grow into a burden. This happens especial-

ly when someone turns generosity into expectations. It gets even more overwhelming when the generosity given out

of the goodness of one’s heart is seen as something others feel they deserve without accountability.

In our desire to reach out to those in need we can easily become overwhelmed in choosing who to help and

how often to extend generosity without payback. We may even ask ourselves if we are giving to the right cause or

for the right purpose when we witness abuse of our donations. The truth is there will always be abusers who take

advantage of the generosity of others. Our role is to reach out in love, without judgment on who receives or why.

Our mission is to help and not let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch. Only God can truly judge and assess our

worth for what we have done as Disciples of Christ.

Fair Grove United Methodist Church is a place where those in need have found a blessing. During Advent

we were able to offer assistance to families in need, making Christmas memorable. I imagine the smiles on the fac-

es of children opening gifts and feeling a warm presence of love. That same warm feeling was extended through our

missions, UMW, gifts from the heart, and gift cards. Three families received groceries, gifts, and gas because

FGUMC cares. Already in 2021 we have been able to assist another family struggling to pay bills. God sees the

truest intentions of the heart. While some can give larger amounts than others, it is what is in the heart that matters

most, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done”

(Proverbs 19:17).

Our contributions make a difference in the lives of others, as well as in our own lives. When giving to others

with the right intention of the heart, we become recipients of a blessing as well. Thank you for making it possible to

share in true discipleship and love of neighbor. Please continue to support our missions so that others will have their

needs met.

Pastor Sandra

United Methodist Women

Greetings and Happy New Year!

Our United Methodist Women have not been able to meet in person lately, but we are still strong and planning for 2021.

Most of the UMW conference and district events will be on-line this year. Our Lucy Girls have been meeting through Zoom and a few in person, socially distanced meetings. On January 16, the Lucy Girls held their pledge service through Zoom. Just a reminder to all circles to send any pledge mon-ey to Ashley Perdue, our unit treasurer.

We are planning a safe way to hold our vegetable soup sale in the near future. If you ordered soup before, some-one will contact you to see if you still wish to order soup. More information to come!

Our annual Prayer and Self Denial service will be held through a Zoom meeting in March. The theme this year is: “She Leads: Empowering Women to Make a Difference.”

The date and time will be announced soon. 100% of the money given through A Call to Prayer and Self-Denial goes directly to fund projects and partners related to the Call to Prayer and Self-Denial theme of the year.

In 2019 United Methodist Women raised $570,281 for programs that promote well-being and equal opportuni-ties for children and youth in need.

In 2019 there was 100% conference participation in the Call to Prayer and Self-Denial observance. All confer-ences raised funding for children and youth worldwide through this supplemental giving.

Showing Love through FG Missions And we have known and believed the love that God has for us.

God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16 (NKJV)

Where will God’s abiding love lead you? Perhaps you could ease someone’s hunger with a meal card to a fast food restaurant, provide a Wal-mart or Food Lion card to purchase a few groceries or gas, or become an InAsMuch Club ($12 a year) member. $5 and $10 cards will be prayerfully given by Pastor

Sandra as she counsels these people in desperate need. Since Christmas, four families have been assisted with gift cards from FG folks!

The Missions Restricted fund relies on your donations to provide for families who come in dire need of assistance with utility and shelter needs. This year, our Lenten offerings will again go to assist those in deepest need. Our pastor provides guidance and advice, with avenues to better the lives of these families. Lent begins Wed., Feb. 17th. While a box will not be provided this year, due to the pandemic, please remember to prayerfully consider each day the needs of those less fortunate. When Easter arrives, offerings may be mailed with Lent offering on the memo line or placed in the offering plate if you are able to come to worship service. (A Lenten envelope will be available.)

Most importantly, let’s remember to pray for individuals and fami-lies who have come to us in need. Isn’t Fair Grove’s love, along with God’s guidance something wonderful?

YTD SS Attendance AVG 30

YTD Worship Attendance AVG 71

YTD Budget Offering $223,726.30

YTD AVG Weekly Offering $ 4,302.43

Kendall Conner Lucero Prieto Regan Sink/ SMA patients Kay Jenkins Lisa Foster Scarlett Merand, age 2

Chip Osborne Evelyn Parks, 1 year old Riley Honeycutt, 10 year old girl Tom Scott and wife/caregiver Lynette Sonny Russell 3 year old Lynix Nichols and family Our homeless friend and neighbor Jimmy Susan Jester Bob Williams Steve Swaney Darlene Mercer Donna Miller Dot Russell Debbie Mayer-Matthews Teresa Rhodes Rev. Michael Bailey, Yadkin Valley D.S. Jo Citrin Fidel Goodnight Gail Mitchell Joe Bales III Bill Barker Teresa Miller Lawrence Russell Leslie Rierson

Misti Whitman and Boles family Michelle Loflin family, Sandra Murphy husband Bill and her family Jane Evans’ daughter Syd-ney Ken Hepler Jean Widder Joe Bennett Haley Parker Angella Welborn family Melissa Everhart family Bill Bowser family Paige and son Leon Wim-mer Evon Hughes Tom Nelson Alan Spainhour Smithers family Anita & Doug Bame Nina Leonard Todd Lomax Tony Clark Jill Turner Reverend Jim Carter

2 Serenity Owens 2 Amanda Inscoe 2 Bill Murphy 6 Conrad Worley 7 Ann Lloyd 7 Pat Stanley 8 Patricia Kennedy 10 Janice Grubb 10 Charles Lyndon 10 Lexie Nameth 12 Frances Coggins 12 Joan Hinkle Robertson 12 Mary Workman 14 Caroline Baldwin 14 Linda Lambeth 15 Virginia Walker 15 Donnie Blair 17 Todd Gallimore 19 Lara Bodenhammer 20 Emily McCurry 22 Donna Miller 22 Eric Johnson 23 Michael Barringer 26 Donald Dorsett 27 Deborah Brooks 27 Oliver Fritts

Need more tithing envelopes for 2021?

Just let us know.

With the covid pandemic and precautions still in place, if you are in need of a new box of tithing envelopes, please let us know by email, fgumc@northstate,net, or call the church office, 336-475-2598. If you leave a voice mail on the church office phone, it will be sent to the church’s email for follow-up. We will contact you and work out a

time for you to pick-up or a place for you to pick up the new box. Thank you for your support and understanding as we continue to work within CDC safety precautions. If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact us as well.

"This is the confidence we have

in approaching God: that if we

ask anything according to His

will, He hears us.”

1 John 5:14

27 Jane Westmoreland 28 Delores Rosebrock 29 Esther Barnard 30 Jeffrey Lee

1 Jimmy & Laurie Lucas 11 Ronnie & Annette Boone 29 Kent & Mindy Vernon

Non Profit

Organization

US Postage Paid

RETURN SERVICE

REQUESTED

Fair Grove United Methodist Church

138 Fairgrove Church Road, Thomasville, NC 27360

www.fairgrovechurch.org

Phone: (336) 475-2598 Email: fgumc@northstate.net

Pastor’s Office Hours: Mon-Thurs 9:00am—1:00pm

You!

FOR PERIOD JANUARY 1 - JANUARY 27, 2021 YTD SS Attendance AVG 0

YTD Worship Attendance AVG 35

YTD Budget Offering $ 13,734.00

YTD AVG Weekly Offering $ 3,433.50

Needed each week to make budget $ 5,692.21

GLEANING

JANUARY: 14 Year-to-date: 14

Non-perishable food items donated to Fairgrove Family

Resource Center

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weekly announcement email?

If so, please call us or send us an email with your updated

information!

Phone: (336) 475-2598

Office Email: fgumc@northstate.net

Pastor Sandra Ireson Email: fgumcpastor@gmail.com