UCUMC NEWS JANUARY 2018

Union Chapel United Methodist Church

6535 Raleigh Road

Kittrell, NC 27544

(252) 438-6978

Pastor’s Corner

Dear friends, Welcome to our monthly Newsletter for Union Chapel UMC! I hope you are as excited to receive this newsletter as I am to bring it to you. We hope this will be an informative means of communication for the entire congregation, and will bring us together as we journey through the ministry of Christ in our community. This first edition is more of a prototype for what is to come. In this first edition you will find various sections that might be unfilled at the present time, but it is my hope that going forward, we will find a way to bring this information to the congregation. Your input is vital for the success of our newsletter. If there is anything you would like included, it is imperative that you get that information to either myself or our Communications Representative, Jill Floyd. Jill has graciously volunteered to help with the publication of the newsletter, and I for one certainly do thank her for that. Each month, the newsletter will include thoughts from the pastor, as well as other happenings, events, notices, and reports that I want to share with all of you. There will also be areas for thank you’s from individuals to members of the congregation, prayer requests, birthdays, and anniversaries of those in our church family. It is important that everyone in the congregation participate by providing information as it relates to you or your family. We cannot help you celebrate an event, or pray for a need, if we don’t know about it, and what better way to share information than through this newsletter. Recently, I have been reminded of how much each of you mean to me. Looking back on my first six months here, I can honestly say I am grateful to be a part of this congregation. I see so much potential within Union Chapel, and I am excited about the faithfulness of God and what we can accomplish in 2018. God is all powerful, and God is a mighty provider who can do more than we can possibly imagine. We

have a wonderful opportunity to avoid some mistakes of the past and move forward to be in ministry together and doing whatever it is that the Lord sets before us.

As we begin a new year, let’s focus on provisions

for a journey. We’re also a culture that, when faced by the unknown, like to stock up on what we need. Right now as I write this, a winter storm is slamming much of the eastern part of the nation. People have been “stocking up” for the possibility that they’ll be sheltering in place following this storm. So my question for you is this, focusing on the year ahead: what are the most important “provisions” that you will need for our journey? When you think about

the most challenging times in your life, what are the most important things that have tided you over? Personally, I can think of some precious things that have gotten me through. The majority of these things take up little or no physical space, which make sense because Jesus always encouraged his disciples to travel light. In Mark 6:8-9, Jesus “charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.” His point was to focus

them, not to be impoverished, but to clear their vision of material things so that they can clearly see the most precious provisions of all: other people, and the presence of God in those people. Of the most precious things on my journey, I think of those transcendent moments when I hear the voice of God through music or song. Living with a daughter whose life is always about music, I have learned to hear God’s words to me through all types of music. Each type speaks differently, but each has something important God wants me to hear. ` So, at the beginning of this new journey of 2018, I

ask you to contemplate this: who and what are the real provisions of your life? Think of them, and tuck them away in that special part of your heart that you reserve for precious things. Welcome to 2018! Let’s get started again on our journey for Christ! Love in Christ, Pastor Leslie

In Our Thoughts & Prayers

Linda Cameron Sandra Perkinson Barry Jackson Janie Pulley Kim Jackson Mildred Pulley Lise Ledford Linda Shepherd Faye Moss Wilber Slaughter Debbie Perkinson Sally Ann Van Dyke Jackie Harris Our shut-in/homebound members: Annie Mae Buchanan, Mary Lee Crocker, Savannah Finch, Betty Hedgepath, J.B. Johnson, Ruth Woodlief Others: B.& Gene Connolly Zachary Edwards Sherry Faulkner Johnette Garrett Geneva Harris Judy Kirby Juliana Lundeby Jocelyn Meyerscough (Shirley Frazier) James Pegram Raven Pickerel Donnie Stainback Edna Thomas Howard Thomas Ken Thorne Cathy Willis Billy Wilson Bradley Woodlief (Edward & Velvet Woodlief)

Let’s remember our military members who

are deployed or will deploying soon.

Thomas Cameron

Michael Nolen

Let us also remember our fire fighters, law

enforcement and other first responders who put

their lives on the line each day to provide

protection.

Remember those who are homeless!

DONALD’S JOKE CORNER Q: Where was the Declaration of

Independence signed? A: At the bottom!

Q: What do you call a person who keeps talking when no one is listening?

A: A Preacher! Q: What ended in 2018?

A: 2017! Q: Where did you learn to make

banana splits? A: At sundae school!

Q: When is a door not a door? A: When it is a-jar!

Q: Where do cows like to go on the weekends? A: To the MOOvies!

Confirmation Class

Confirmation class will resume Sunday, January 14 beginning at 9:45 a.m. in the

children’s Sunday school class. Confirmation will be taught the following dates in January:

January 14 January 21 January 28

Please let Pastor Leslie know if you cannot attend any of these dates so makeups can be

scheduled.

Union Chapel January Meetings: Admin Council: Tuesday, Jan. 9th, 7:00 p.m.

United Methodist Men (UMM): Tuesday,

Jan. 16th, 6:00 p.m.

United Methodist Women (UMW): Sunday,

Jan. 21st, 3:30 p.m.

FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

Each month, we will have amounts listed for monthly

and year to date income and expenses, so everyone can

see how the church is doing financially. This will

allow the congregation to plan accordingly in terms of

giving. The Bible tells us that we are to be good

stewards of all that God has given us, and are to give

back to God in accordance with our blessings. If you

have been abundantly blessed, consider making an

extra donation to one of our annual special offerings, or

to any ministry at Union Chapel.

JANUARY BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Kyle Furlow-1st

Randy Eatmon-2nd

Sandra Perkinson-4th

Daniel Garrett-4th

Clyde Pulley-6th

Kathy Perkinson-8th

Jewel Hedgepeth-9th

John Wilson, Jr.- 11th

Micheal Finney-12th

Jamie Gay-12th

Richard Gay-18th

Edward Woodlief-21st

Gayle Stanton-30th

Faye Moss-31st

David Pulley, Jr.-31st

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Each month, reports, notices, or

announcements of the various committees,

groups, missions, and classes of Union

Chapel will be posted here. If you would

like to post a notice for your group or

committee, or if there is an upcoming

activity or event which you would like to

advertise, please contact Pastor Leslie or

Jill Floyd. They will happy to get your

information into the newsletter.

SUNDAY SCHOOL Each week Union Chapel has two adult

Sunday school classes, as well as a

class for children. You are

encouraged to begin your Sunday

mornings at 9:45 a.m. in the

sanctuary. We host a gathering time

for all ages, with songs, prayer,

birthday celebrations, and scripture

reading before being dismissed to

various classes. Join us in learning

and exploring the Scriptures!

CELEBRATING AN ANNIVERSARY

If your birthday or anniversary is not listed and you would like it to be, please see either Pastor Leslie or Jill Floyd. Thank you.

Union Chapel Church Officers 2018

Church Council Chair…………………...Tony Sanford

Church Council Vice Chair…………...Durwood Wells

Lay Leader………………………………..Kim Jackson

Recording Secretary……………….……Gayle Stanton

Lay Member to Annual Conference………..Tracy Gay

Alternate Lay Members……………………Ralph Ross

Treasurer………………Tammy Sanford, Paul Faucette

Financial Secretary……….Joe Ledford, Alice Braswell

President of United Methodist Women ….Kim Jackson

President of United Methodist Men…Edward Woodlief

Sunday School Superintendent…………Mary Jo Floyd

Asst Sunday School Superintendent…….Tony Sanford

Disaster Preparedness…..Jaime Gay, Edward Woodlief

Ten Dollar Club Representative…………...J.D. Wilson

Committee On Finance 2018:

Tony Sanford (Admin Council)

Tracy Gay (AC Lay Member)

TBD (Trustee Chair)

2019:

Tammy Sanford (Treasurer)

Jill Floyd (PPRC Chair)

Mildred Ross (At large member)

2020:

Joe Ledford (Fin. Sec)

Robert McGhee (Chair)

Jaime Gay (At large member)

Pastor Parish Relations Committee

2018: 2019:

Gayle Stanton Ralph Ross

Durwood Wells Alice Braswell

Marie Floyd Jill Floyd (C)

2020:

Marshall Hilliard

Betty Stanton

Edward Woodlief

Board of Trustees

2018: 2019:

Margie Moss Edward Woodlief

Jill Floyd Charles Garrett

Joe Ledford Mildred Ross

2020:

David Pulley

Barry Jackson

Alice Braswell

Committee On Lay Leadership

2018: 2019:

Jennifer Eatmon Alice Braswell

Ralph Ross Tracy Gay

Joe Ledford Mary Jo Floyd

2020:

Barry Jackson

Edward Woodlief

Betty Stanton

Parsonage Committee

2018: 2019:

Tracy Gay (C) Jennifer Eatmon

Donnie Sanford Barry Jackson

Joe Ledford Margie Moss

2020:

Mary Jo Floyd

John Frazier

Ralph Ross

Cemetery Committee Ralph Ross, Margie Moss, Betty Stanton, David Pulley

Marshall Hilliard, John Frazier, Edward Woodlief (C),

Durwood Wells

Christian Education Committee

Children Rep. (Teresa Edwards)

Youth Rep. (Jennifer Eatmon)

Young Adult Rep. (Ashley Gay)

Adult/Family Rep. (TBD)

Sunday School Superintendent (Mary Jo Floyd)

Literature Chair (Grace Woodlief)

Outreach Committee

Missions Rep. (Mary Jo Floyd)

Evangelism Rep. (Tony Sanford)

Communications Rep. (Jill Floyd)

Worship Committee

Communion Stewards (Edith Garrett, Terry Peacock,

Barbara Peacock, Jean Evans)

Ushers (Charles Garrett, Jr., Ralph Ross)

Choir Director (Edward Woodlief)

Musician (Marie Pegram)

Lay Leader (Kim Jackson)

Lay Speakers (Alice Braswell)

Acolytes (Jennifer Eatmon)

Sound (David Pulley)

Nurture

Hospitality (Lise Ledford)

Congregational Care (Betty Frazier, Jennifer Eatmon,

Teresa Edwards, Bobby Hester)

Letter from the Pastor on

Behalf of the PPRC

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and

Savior, Jesus Christ! I hope you all had a wonderful

Advent season, and celebrated the birth of the Christ

child with your family and friends. I wanted to take the

opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and

a Happy New Year!

I know that these last few months have been an

adjustment period for all of us, as you the congregation

of Union Chapel get to know me and I get to know all of

you. Along the way there have been some bumps in the

road, and I know from conversations with various

people at the church there have been some concerns over

my theology (what I believe), particularly as it pertains

to salvation through Jesus Christ.

I would like to take the opportunity during this

Christmas season to offer some clarification in order to

hopefully and finally alleviate any worries members of

the congregation may be having at this time. It is my

hope this letter will address these concerns in order for

us to move forward as a congregation into the new year

with grace, hope, and love towards each other and a goal

of making disciples for Christ for the transformation of

the world. As some of you may know, I did not grow up in

the United Methodist Church. I have been a member

of several denominations over the years, but it was the

UMC with which I found a home, primarily because

my theology aligned with that of the UMC. As United

Methodists, we absolutely believe in the Trinity:

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe the Bible as

Holy Scripture is primary and contains everything we

need for salvation, which we understand to only come

through Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us in John 14:6

that Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the

life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

As Christians we know this to be true.

As Christians, and as United Methodists, we

also understand that God can choose to save anyone

and we cannot decide whom God will save. We simply

trust in the teachings of Jesus and the Scriptures to

provide guidance for our lives. Our belief in the path to

salvation does not allow us to put down other religions,

nor the gifts they have given to the world, even as this

applies to other Christians. Scripture tells us, “You

shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and

with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the

greatest and first commandment. And a second is like

it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” This

means no matter how another person thinks or feels, it

is our job to be a witness to the life, death, and

resurrection of Jesus, while still loving them despite

any differences we may have with each other.

Often times this is difficult for Christians to do,

because we care so much for others and want to make

sure they know how important it is to receive salvation

through Jesus Christ. However, we are only called to

offer love, grace, and forgiveness to others, and to be a

witness to Jesus Christ through these actions. As to

their salvation, as with ours, that is left up to God. We

are called to proclaim the gospel of the good news of

Christ, making disciples throughout all nations, without

ever presuming to know the full extent of God’s work

in the world, as these are mysteries which humanity

has not knowledge.

John Wesley coined the phrase “agree to

disagree.” This has not only become a much-used

cliché within our society, but is also a hallmark of

Methodism. What this means simply is that we do not

have to agree on every point of doctrine in order to be

in ministry together. Christianity contains many

denominations in its Protestant tradition; however, not

all of these denominations believe exactly the same

ideology. Yet we agree that Jesus Christ is the Son of

God, and was sent to be our salvation. Beyond that, as

John Wesley says, “if we cannot think alike, may be

love alike”. We are all connected together through the

grace, peace, and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus

Christ.

These are the basic tenets of United Methodism

and the Christian faith, and this is what I believe as a

pastor within the United Methodist denomination. I

hope this explanation has brought some illumination to

any questions or concerns some of you may have had

in recent months. I also hope that as we begin 2018,

we can move forward to continue to be a beacon of

light for Jesus within the Kittrell and Vance County

communities.

If any of you still have questions, please feel

free to contact me and we can discuss individually. I

will always make myself available to any of you; my

schedule beyond classroom hours is very flexible, and I

am happy to drop by for a visit at your home or we can

meet at the church.

Again, I would like to extend to each of you a

Happy New Year. Enjoy the continuing Christmas

season as we prepare to go forth into the community

loving all we meet and spreading the good news of the

Christ who died and lives again for us all!

Love in Christ Always,

Pastor Leslie

Committee Reorganization Some of you may have noticed on

the list of officers for Union Chapel for

2018 there are some changes to the

way our committees are structured.

This has been done in accordance with

the United Methodist Church’s Book of Discipline (BOD) and the policies set

forth for each local congregation.

Specifically, the Finance Committee

now has the membership as outlined in

the BOD, to include various committee

chairpersons directly involved in the

financial operations of the church. In

addition, some of the previous

committees have been combined to

decrease the number of overall

committees, allowing people to be used

where their gifts and talents are most

needed.

Per the BOD, each committee is

required to meet at least quarterly to

conduct its necessary business. As

such, Pastor Leslie will be contacting all

committee members regarding the

scheduling of regular meeting times, in

order to have a roster of meetings that

is consistent and also accommodating of

those serving on the committees.

Pastor Leslie requests your patience

as we work through these new

transitions together. She is working

very hard to make certain we are doing

the work of the church in compliance

with the policies set forth by the United

Methodist Church and the North

Carolina Annual Conference, of which

Union Chapel is a member.

Quote of the Month

Resolution One: I will live for God.

Resolution Two: if no one else does, I

still will.

~Jonathan Edwards

Pastor’s Spring Schedule

Beginning January 10th, Pastor Leslie will return to

school for the Spring semester of seminary. Office

hours will be Wednesday afternoons from 1:00-5:00

p.m. and Friday mornings from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon.

If pastoral care is needed outside of office hours, you

may leave a voicemail at the church office or the

church parsonage. In the event of an emergency, you

can reach Pastor Leslie on her cell phone at (252) 646-

3177.

Pastor Leslie will be out of town from January 18-22,

2018. If there is an emergency, pastoral care will be

available from one of the other local pastors in the area.

Please watch the bulletin for more information on who

to contact in during her absence. Rev. Eric Lindblade

will be preaching and leading worship on Sunday,

January 21, 2018.

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

Please don’t forget to get your articles, birthdays,

anniversaries, or anything else you would like to have

published in the newsletter to us. The deadline for the

next newsletter will be January 28, 2018. The

February newsletter will be distributed on the last

Sunday of the month, which is January 28, 2018. Your

information may be emailed to Pastor Leslie Zeek at

lzeek@nccumc.org, or to Jill Floyd at

jfloyd2000@hotmail.com. You may also drop off any

information at the church office to the attention of

Pastor Leslie.