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March 2016
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Mt. Pleasant Church
336-475-6757
Volume XI, No. 3
“Really?”
This past week the following decision was made by the Charlotte… not New
York… not Miami… not Boston… but Charlotte City Council. They approve
7-4 an ordinance that would allow transgender residents to use either a men’s
or women’s bathroom, depending on the gender with which they identify. You
get that part? However they identify. This means anyone at any time for any
reason you can now visit the bathroom of the opposite sex. Maybe even
locker rooms, that is up for debate
The vote was not even close. So… the next time I am in Charlotte, I can have
the pleasure of knowing that a 45 year old male pervert can be inside with my
7 year old daughter.
I am sitting here shaking my head…but in sadness more than disgust. This is
yet another step toward disobedience. It has been allowed by well-meaning
but silent followers of Christ like you and me.
The Bible tells us in Psalms 81:12 “So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to
follow their own devices”. Because we are continually hard hearted toward the
things of God this is the result. If we are quick to condemn, (as we should) this
vote, we must be even quicker to search our hearts and see where we are
falling short of the glory of God.
This ordinance did not happen overnight. It was a slow fade, a slow erosion of
truth, holiness and dare I say common sense. It came as a result of
denominations, churches and Christians covering our eyes and plugging our
ears to God’s Word. God forgive us!
May we each pray that God will test our hearts and give us His strength when
facing the attacks of Satan and this world.
We read in 1 Thessalonians 2:4 “On the contrary, we speak as those approved by
God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who
tests our hearts.” Let us speak as those approved by God at all times. Let’s
proclaim the gospel that we have been entrusted with. Remember that God is
whom we are to please and no one else.
In addition, be in prayer for those who are blinded by darkness as each of us
have been. Pray that we can show the love of Jesus to those who hate Jesus
and his Word the most.
On the next page is an old article that seemed appropriate to end with.
Continued on page 2
CONTENTS:
Attendance & Stewardship
9
Birthday List
6
Coming Events
8
Easter Egg-Stravaganza
4
Easter Musical
4
Easter Cantata
5
Mission Committee
9
Serving the Church
7
United Methodist Men
6
United Methodist Women
6
Youth Breakfast
6
Check out our website…
MtPleasantUMC.org
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Letter from the Pastor Continued
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us
for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago
lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come
in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn't always fair, and maybe it was
my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies and reliable parenting
(adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when wellintentioned, but overbearing, regulations were set in place.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they had
themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when
schools were required to get parental consent to administer Tylenol or sunscreen to a pupil,
but could not inform the parents when a pupil became pregnant and wanted to have an
abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband,
churches became clubs and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common
Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home,
but the burglar could sue you for assault because you protected yourself.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realize that a
steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap and was promptly awarded a
huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust, his wife, Discretion,
his daughter, Responsibility and his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know
My Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral
because so few realized that he was gone.
Common Sense may have died, But Jesus is alive. That is my hope,
Pastor Chris
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Easter 2016
Mt. Pleasant Church
Saturday, March 19 – Easter Cantata & Community Dinner at 5:30 PM
Sunday, March 20 – Easter Cantata at 10:45 AM
Sunday, March 20 – Easter Egg-Stravaganza from 12-2 PM
Thursday, March 24 – Maundy Thursday Service at 6:30 PM
Sunday, March 27 – Easter Sunday
7 AM – Sonrise Service
7:30 AM – Breakfast
8:30 AM – Worship Service
10 AM – Worship Service & MTP Kids Easter Musical
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Kids, make sure to bring a basket for the Easter Egg Hunt!
There will be something fun for everyone!
Games, Crafts, Cookie Decorating, Egg Decorating, Face Tattoos,
Easter Bunny, and a performance of The Easter Story.
A hotdog and hamburger meal will be served after the 10:45 Service.
All activities will take place after the meal.
Easter Musical
Sunday, March 27
10 AM
The children of Mt. Pleasant will be performing an Easter Musical at the 10 AM
service on Easter Sunday.
Please register your child at MtPleasantUMC.org/easter-musical
Registration will close on January 28
Contact Tracey Ray at [email protected] with any questions.
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NO CROSS, NO CROWN
by Randy Vader, Jay Rouse, and Rose Aspinall
EASTER CANTATA AND COMMUNITY EVENT
SATURDAY, MARCH 19 @ 5:30 PM - The dancing angels will begin the evening, and then the choir
will present the Easter Cantata. We will be inviting the homeless to worship with us, and we will
provide a meal for them afterwards. We will be needing volunteers to assist with meal preparation,
serving, cleanup, etc. for the evening.
EASTER CANTATA
SUNDAY, MARCH 20 @ 10:45 AM - The dancing angels will begin the service, and then the choir will
present the Easter Cantata during our worship hour.
******
Jesus, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself
nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as
a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:6-8)
No cross, no crown, No debt repaid
No thorns, no throne, No sentence staid
No life, no death, No grace come down
His loss, our gain, No cross no crown
The cross, that instrument of death, now becomes the symbol of life. And the crown, so magnificent, becomes
the symbol of just how far God is willing to go to redeem us. If there is NO CROSS, there is NO CROWN.
PLEASE JOIN US FOR THIS SPECIAL WORSHIP HOUR!
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United Methodist Men (UMM) . . .
Hello from the Men’s Fellowship.
We had a great Valentine’s Breakfast meeting in February with over 40
people present. Thank you to Pastor Bill for the message. Please join us
for our annual skeet shoot on March 19th at Jerry Hilton’s place. We are
also holding a BBQ Chicken Fundraiser on April 23rd and we will need help
pre-selling tickets to make this successful.
Respectfully submitted, Greg Moore
United Methodist Women (UMW) . . .
At our February meeting on 2/23 we discussed several local mission
projects we will be participating in, in the next few months. Our goal for
the year is to grow closer in our walk with God, and to make a difference
in lives through the mission projects. We welcomed some new faces to
the group and encourage anyone who is interested to join us at a meeting.
Our next meeting date is Monday, March 21 at 6:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted, Jane Mendenhall
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Thank You!!!
The Wednesday Morning Youth breakfast is a time for our Youth to get
together and fellowship with a home cooked breakfast and have a time of
time each week.
Without all of the volunteers who donate the food, prepare the food,
clean up from the breakfast, drive the bus and Pastor Bill & Pastor
Chris for giving the Youth a time of devotion, this would not be possible.
Thank you to our Wednesday Morning Kitchen crew:
Rusty & Malinda Cagle, Ron & Dot Russell, Jane Payne, Shirley Johnson,
Robert & Teresa Harden and Elaine Darr.
Thank you to our bus drivers:
Greg Moore, Rusty Cagle and Robert Harden.
Thank you to the folks who donate food:
Marilyn Conrad, JW & Julie Motsinger, Margie Pitts, Barbara Putnam, Mary
Bowdish, Doug & Gail Aderhold, Lynn Staley, Jane Mendenhall, Kim Black,
Sue Fitzgerald and Joanne Baughn.
March 26, 2016
MtPleasantUMC.org/soles-for-souls-5k
March Birthdays
2 – Lindsey Varner, Adam Lassiter
4 – Ida Bodenheimer, Margie Pitts,
Mary Kathryn Vining
5 – Wilfred Hilton, Debbie Hoffman,
Brooke McChesney
6 – William Hiatt
8 – Logan Alphin, Susan Miller
10 – Elaine Darr, Maddie Hagee, Helen
Hilton, Barbara Putnam
11 – Linda Berrier, Rick Hunt
12 – Harper Fitzgerald, Mason Plott
17 – Adam Craven, Pam D Hall
18 – Matt Koontz
19 – Lindsay Hall, Barbara Waynick
20 – Brian Darr, Tanner Sanders,
Jescena Sink
21 – Jimmy Ray
22 – Pete Muller
24 – Cheryl Graeub
25 – Jimmy Craven, Michael Hilton
26 – Trent Hayworth
27 – Hunter Jordan
29 – Bud Shular
29 – Eileen Sloan
30 – Betty Leonard, Morgan Miller,
Ivy Ray, Jimmy Sands
If you would like to add your birthday to
our birthday list, please email the church
office at [email protected]
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Serving the Church in March
Acolytes:
March 6: Noah Kleinhenz & Jake Goins
March 13: Jake Johnson & Hunter Clodfelter
March 20: Tylor White & Jake Fleming
March 27: Abby Lane & Sarah Clodfelter
Ushers:
March 6: *John Howard, JW Motsinger, Jay Payne, Craig Fleming
March 13: *Timmy Hege, Greg Johnson, Jeremy Ray, Tyler Everhart
March 20: *Gary Mendenhall, Donald Kennedy, Mike Kleinhenz, Chris Hagee
March 27: *Corey Knolmayer, Connor Peacock, Trent Hayworth, Cliff Lassiter
Worship Leaders:
8:35 Service
9:45 Service
March 6: Glen Morgan
Jared Hall
March 13: JW Motsinger
Jeff & Debbie Eller
March 20: Lee & Janie Penry
Kemp Smith
March 27: Christopher Fitzgerald
Christopher Fitzgerald
Greeters:
8:35 Service
9:45 Service
March 6: Mary Bowdish
Cliff Lassiter
March 13: Tim & Amy Sexton
Cliff Lassiter
March 20: Volunteer Needed
Jeff & Debbie Eller
March 27: Dinah Farrington
Pam D. Hall
Nursery:
8:35 Service
9:45 Service
March 6: John & Sharon Payne
Karen Boatright, Brandi Jordan & Donna Weavil
March 13: Debbie Hoffman & Jane Mendenhall
Kim Walser & Diana Payne
March 20: Jane Payne & Julie Motsinger
Kim Walser & Diana Payne
March 27: Mae Holler & Jescena Sink
Karen Boatright, Brandi Jordan & Donna Weavil
Children’s Church:
8:35 Service
10:45 Preschool
March 6: Diana Payne
Pastor Bill & Youth
March 13: April Norton
Amber Rinaldi
March 20: Taylor Cline
Mae Holler & Lillie Sink
March 27: Easter Sunday
Dana Fitzgerald & Youth
Children’s Check-In Table:
8:35 Service
9:45 Service
March 6: Wendy Harper
Melinda Miller
March13: Sarah Brown
Melissa Moser
March 20: Karen Boatright
Dyani McMillan
March 27: Pam D. Hall
Catherine Stroud
Wednesday Morning Youth Breakfast:
March 2: Barbara Putnam & Mary Bowdish
March 9: Doug & Gail Aderhold & Lynn Staley
March 16: Jane Mendenhall & Kim Black
March 23: JW & Julie Motsinger
March 30: Sue Fitzgerald & Joanne Baughn
MTP Youth and MTP Kids Servers: Angie Hayworth, Keith & Paula Knolmayer
10:45 Service
Lee Koontz
Kevin Hedgecock
Daniel & April Rich
10:45 Service
Keith & Paula Knolmayer
PreTeen Class
Volunteer Needed
Glenn & Joy Smith
10:45 Service
Linda Hilton & Joanne Baughn
Linda Hilton & Ashley Buckner
Tia Starner & Curt Motsinger
Jill Hege & Brenda Moore
10:45 Elementary
Tracy Clodfelter & Ann Fleming
John & Julie Howard
Pastor Bill & Youth
Amanda Clontz & Jescena Sink
10:45 Service
Mae Holler
Kim Black
Laura Hartley
Brenda & Abby Lane
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March Events
Sundays
MTP Youth 5th – 7th Grade
4 – 5 PM
Sundays
MTP Youth 7th – 12th Grade
5 – 6 PM
Mondays
Resilient Surrender Meeting
6:30 PM
Tuesdays
Choir Practice
6:45 PM
Tuesdays
REFIT
7:00 PM
Tuesdays (2nd & 4th)
Praise Singers Practice
8:00 PM
Wednesdays
Youth Breakfast
7:00 AM
Wednesdays
Family Night Meal
5:30 PM
Wednesdays
Family Night Bible Study
6:30 PM
Thursdays
Handbell Practice
7 – 8 PM
Thursdays
REFIT
7:00 PM
Fridays
Men’s Bible Study
6:30 AM
Saturdays
Soles for Souls Training
9:00 AM
Sunday, March 6
Methodist Men’s Breakfast Meeting
Sunday, March 6
Dancing Angels Practice
Sunday, March 6
Divine Connection Meeting
3:30 – 5 PM
Sunday, March 6
Mission Trip Team Meeting
7 PM
Sunday, March 13
Dancing Angels Practice
Sunday, March 13
Choir Practice
Saturday, March 19
Women Offering Worship
Saturday, March 19
Men’s Skeet Shoot
Saturday, March 19
Easter Cantata & Community Meal
Sunday, March 20
Easter Cantata
10:45 AM
Sunday, March 20
Easter Egg-Stravaganza
12 – 2 PM
Thursday, March 24
Maundy Thursday Service
Saturday, March 26
Soles for Souls 5K
Sunday, March 27
Easter Sunday
7 AM
3 – 4 PM
3 – 4 PM
1 – 2:30 PM
9:30 - 11 AM
10 AM
5:30 PM
6:30 PM
8 AM
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Worship, Discipleship & Stewardship Summary
Date
1/24/2016
1/31/2016
2/7/2016
2/14/2016
2/21/2016
5:30pm
Worship
8:35am
Worship
9:45am
Worship
10:45am
Worship
Total
Weekend
Worship
16
13
16
20
51
144
137
127
159
71
145
158
132
138
30
133
95
133
105
152
438
403
393
422
Sunday
Small
Group
Classes
Snow
262
245
245
233
General
Budget
Offering
Family Life
Center
Offering
$3,954.00
$15,403.53
$8,742.00
$5,144.06
9,221.61
1,640.00
4,198.00
3,135.50
995.00
2,081.50
FLC Funds Raised To Date: $1,138,252.39
Missions Committee is collecting the following
items for children in the Dominican Republic
 Flip Flops
 Solar powered calculators
 Jump Ropes
 Money for Shipping
Items will be sent to school teachers in San Cristobel, DR,
where the Youth Mission Team visited in 2015.
Items will be collected through March 6 in the lobby.
Please see Teresa Harden for further information.
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OUR MISSION
To Boldly Share the Unfailing Love
of Jesus
6516 Old Greensboro Road
Thomasville, NC 27360
336-475-6757
OUR VISION
To Turn Our Community Upside
Down for Jesus Christ
Staff
OUR VALUES
Rev. Chris Clontz
Senior Pastor
[email protected]
Cell: 336-880-8847
Authority of Scripture
Pastor Bill Miller
Minister of Children & Youth
[email protected]
Cell: 919-257-3744
Authentic Relationships
Obedient Surrender
Expectant Hearts
Felecia Motsinger
Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
Office Hours – Tues.-Fri.
8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Find us on the Web!
MtPleasantUMC.org
Facebook Twitter Vimeo
Worship Opportunities
Saturday – 5:30pm
Small Group – 6:45pm
Sunday – 8:35am, 9:45am, 10:45am
Small Groups – 8:45am, 9:45am, 10:45am
February 28 – Building With Prayer:
Power of Prayer
March 6 – Building Through Action:
Stepping Out in Faith
March 13 – Building Among Opposition:
We face obstacles as answer to God’s
call.
March 20 – Building with Truth: God’s
Word is a foundation for all building