THE MESSENGER
Issue 172
Pastor’s Desk
Greetings to the Saints of
Northwoods!
Allow me to start this message
sharing with you a true story. A story
of pain which led to produce one of
the greatest inventions of it’s time
which drastically reshaped the ability
to easily communicate quickly over
vast distances. When we pick up our
cell phones today to talk with family
and friends across states, continents,
and time zones the miracle behind
this rapid explosion of communication
technology is seldom remembered.
Remember in the early 1800’s,
information traveled only at the
speed of ships, trains, or more
commonly horses. The famous Pony
Express riders at best traveled 75
miles a day on horseback. Word
traveling from Saint Joseph, Missouri,
to Sacramento, California, took an
average of 10 days, with folks
marveling at the courage and speed
of these riders. As the author Mark
Batterson comments, it may be urban
legend, but King George of England is
reported to have made the following
entry in his personal journal on July
4, 1776, “Nothing much happened
today”.
Within this cultural context, a
famous painter living in 1825 has
returned to the capital of Washington
to paint a portrait of the leading
French supporter of the American
Revolution, Marquis de Lafayette.
March 2016
Website: www.northwoodsumc.org
Follow us on:
Twenty years prior this painter was
commissioned to paint the “House of
Representatives”, a famous depiction
of a night session of Congress.
This famous painter’s name is
Samuel Morse, do you know about
him? In his book, “The Grave
Robber”, Mark describes Mr. Morse
painting on the portrait when a horse
messenger delivers a one-line
message from his father: “Your dear
wife is convalescent”. By the time he
arrives back home in Connecticut, his
wife had already been buried. Can
you imagine the pain, the frustration,
the guilt?
Instead of quitting on life, instead
of cursing God and allowing
discouragement to breed into deep
despair, Mr. Morse stopped painting
and put his effort and time in
pursuing a means of rapid longdistance communication, thank the
Lord!
This now painter turned inventor
secured a $30,000.00 congressional
appropriation to build a telegraph line
along the Baltimore/Ohio Railway
from Washington DC to Baltimore.
On 24 May, 1844, a day little
remembered…it happened! A large
crowd gathered inside the Capitol to
witness Morse tap a message in a
language he created, the Morse
Code. There were many bright and
influential people present who
doubted Mr. Morse’s invention would
work. Remarkably, also mostly
forgotten, the message Mr. Morse
tapped out was chosen by a Miss
Annie Ellsworth who chose the words
from the book of the Bible, Numbers
23:23 which simply states, “What
hath God wrought?”
During this season of Lent, His
Holy Spirit has led us into a new
series, “The Wilderness Journey”. As
Jesus experienced the wilderness on
our behalf, we are looking at our own
wilderness experiences as well as
inviting all Northwoods disciples to
join us in a new wilderness journey to
allow HIM to create a new work in us,
for HIS glory and our good. We
rightly understand the wilderness is a
time depicted by the following words:
dry, desolate, lonely, trying, difficult,
agonizing, hunger and thirst.
Generally, a wilderness experience is
“any place we do NOT desire to be”.
During this journey we are
encouraged to belief and trust that
these wilderness experiences are
times of learning and can also be
times of blessing. We understand
that none of our temptations or trials
are unique, uncommon. We
understand that God is there, in ways
we will never completely understand,
desiring to sustain us, to equip us, to
empower us, to console us, to
shower the depth of HIS love on us
anew.
The “so what” comes down
simply to, will I believe? Am I willing
to trust HIM in the darkest times of
my life? Deep in my soul, do I KNOW
HE IS the Great I AM? Am I willing to
be another Paul or Silas who chose to
sing and pray in the inner jail while
shackled with chains after being
beaten and threatened with death?
Am I willing to be like Mr. Morse who
used the pain of his wilderness
experience to so motivate him to
invent the greatest communication
invention of his day, the telegraph
and Morse Code?
During our Lenten Wilderness
Journey, I invite all Northwoods
disciples to meditate and read Psalm
51. While doing so, I invite you to
join us in this prayer cycle:
• Lord I Yield to You
• Come Examine Me
• Jesus Forgive and Cleanse Me
• Holy Spirit Restore and
Strengthen Me
In HIS Love,
Pastor Jerry
Northwoods United
Methodist Church
Service Times & Activities
Sundays:
Mondays:
Tuesdays:
8:45 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 pm
12:15 pm
1:00 pm
9:30 am
5:30 pm
7:00 pm
10:00 am
6:00 pm
6:00 pm
6:30 pm
Wednesdays:
Thursdays:
Fridays:
Saturdays
10:30 am
6:30 pm
7:30 pm
6:30 pm
6:00 am
7:00 pm
10:00 am
Praise & Worship
Sunday School
Traditional Worship
Senior Adult Lunch (3rd Sunday)
United Methodist Youth
Hispanic Worship
ACTS – Women’s Bible Study
Deployed Spouse’s Dinner
(2nd Monday)
ESL class
United Methodist Women/
Naomi Ruth Circle
(3rd Tuesday)
United Methodist Men
(2nd Tuesday)
United Methodist Women/
Lydia Circle (2nd Tuesday)
Marriage Enrichment
(1st & 3rd Tuesday)
Women’s Bible Study
Chancel Choir Rehearsal
Praise Choir Rehearsal
Ladies Bible Study
Men’s Bible Study
Hispanic Bible Study
Sharing & Caring Widows Group
(2nd Saturday)
Prayer Concerns
Our Men and Women of our Armed Forces
Alice
Kate
Clarence Amos
Irene Amos
Margaret Bectin
Chris Belfiore
Bess Brickley
Lisa Codwise
Durwood Cumberland
Maureece Dudley
Stacy Dudley
Megan Foster
Gloria Gardner
Lee Gwin
Karen Huffman
Connie Jenkins
Kenya Medical Team
David Lewis
Coy Marascio
Charlie Miller
Paul Morris
Gay Murphy
James Nicholson
Robert Parker
Joey Richardson
Faafetai Saelua
Fia Saelua
Talaotaua Saelua
Zachary Simpkins
Nova Smith
Clay Strasser
Ben Whitney
Whitney Wickesberg
and their families
Yvonne
Ashe Family
Bremerman Family
Ron Cox
Jodi Dudley
Jeremy Evans
Tracy Green
Tatum Hummel
Kent Leighty
Jane Miles
Keith Mosier
Kelly Nicholson
Rostad family
Naina Saelua
Mary Smith
Katie Whatley
MEMORIALS
Memorial Fund
In memory of Louise Garris by James Macco
Food Pantry
In memory of Grandma Roberts by Henry & Sue Ramsey
FOOD PANTRY
Each Communion Sunday you are invited to bring a bag
or box filled with these items as a love offering. Please
know that any items from the list are appreciated at any
time.
For one adult (1 week of meals):
1 Box of instant rice 14oz
2 cans of fruit 15oz
2 cans of soup 16oz
2 bx Mac n Cheese 7.25oz
1 box Saltines 4pk 16oz
1 jar Peanut Butter 16oz
1 jar Jelly 13 oz
2 cans evaporated milk 12oz
2 cans of vegetables 15oz
1 can Pork ‘n Beans 15oz
4 cans meat (tuna, chicken, SPAM, etc) 5oz
1 box 10 pack variety instant Oatmeal
Rick Baldwin has graciously offered to do “the leg work”
for you! He priced the above list and you can get ALL the
items for $25 at the Commissary. If you would like him
to do the shopping, make sure to give Rick your $25 and
he will get the list and bring it to the church!
“As we come to be fed on Communion Sunday, in turn we feed
others as Jesus would have us to do.”
The nursery is constantly in need of supplies and we
would like to ask for assistance from our church family.
If you feel so inclined, these are the supplies we
regularly use. Please drop them off in the nursery or
you can give them to LeighAnn Swigart.
Thank you in advance for your generosity.
Goldfish crackers
Veggie straws
Kleenex
Paper towels
Cheerios
Animal crackers
Baby wipes
Clorox or Lysol wipes
NAOMI RUTH CIRCLE
Naomi Ruth Circle met on the 16th of February
at 10:00 am in the narthex of the church, with 12
members present and a guest, Jennifer Hulse, from
the Lydia circle. The United Methodist Women’s
Purpose was read in unison. Opening prayer was
given by Marge Zima.
Marian Shiver gave Naomi Ruth Circle’s
treasurer of $31.25 and the UMW treasure report
was given by Vera Strong, balance of $2,786.08.
Mission project collection was $80.00 plus our
$42.00, leaving a balance of $378.00. Our First
Quarter dues have been paid to the Sound District
treasurer.
Devotion was given Marge Zima on Help
Yourself to Blessings and the program was given
by Ruth Cox, on ”What is Love?” John 3:16 “For
God so loved the world, He gave his only Son, that
whosoever believeth on Him shall be saved.”
Marge Zima stated the plaque is in. This plaque
has all the names of persons from Northwoods
United Methodist Church who has gone into the
ministry engraved on it. It will be given to the
Pastor Jerry to be placed somewhere in the Church.
Nanellen Unsworth is our new Reading Resource
person and is excited about sharing with you our
reading program. She will be bringing UMW Reading
Books each meeting to share and check out, if
anyone is interested.
Mission Study was held on February 6, 2016,
however due to illness no one was able to attend.
Jennifer Hulse was presented with a mission pin for
all the wonderful and many things she does.
Mission Study “Happiness” will be held on Saturday,
March 12th at Jarvis United Memorial Church,
Greenville; registration is 9:30 a.m. We will carpool
leaving the church parking lot promptly 8:15 a.m.
Sunday, March 20 marks first day of spring.
Yea! It is also Palm Sunday; Thursday, March 24 is
Maundy Thursday, March 25 Good Friday; with the
27th being Easter. “He is not here, He has risen like
He said.”
Church Women United will meet Friday, March
1st, 11:30 a.m. at Lutheran Church of our Savior.
Pattie Baldwin’s missionary is Hea Sun Kim, on
staff at UMW in NY; Kate Karr’s missionary is Marlie
Schuller, presently serving in Rio de Janeior, Brazil;
Carolyn Beard’s missionary is Debbie Aylmer,
Deaconess, presently living in Black Creed, GA, she
is from the North Carolina Conference; Amy
Whitsitt’s missionary is Elizabeth Fink, US-2,
presently serving in Bella Vista, Arkansas and is
from that conference. These missionaries will be
prayed for by these ladies on their birthdays.
Naomi Ruth will meet the 15th of March at
10:00 a.m., in the fellowship hall. Marian Shiver will
have the devotion and Judy Oliver will have the
program. Closing prayer was given by Ruth Cox. If
you would like to be about God’s business, come
join us.
March Birthdays
Pattie Baldwin
Kate Karr
Carolyn Beard
Amy Whitsitt
1
13
18
19
In Loving Memory
Ruby Baysinger
7 (02-07-99)
Betty Macco
21 (11-14-08)
Dora Parks
29 (01-09-15)
Phyllis Tunison
31 (04-30-13)
LYDIA CIRCLE
Last month we completed our sole hope project.
We will be sending 10 shoe patterns for children in
Africa. We also completed our plans for the
fundraiser we will have at the preschool yard sale
on April 23rd. We will be selling pulled pork plates
with coleslaw and baked beans. Our next meeting
is March 8, 2016. Jennifer will be presenting our
program and LeighAnn will be doing the devotion.
Our group will be responsible for dinner this
month and we have decided on pizza and salads. All
women are asked to bring $5 dollars for pizza and a
few can bring salad if they prefer.
Beginning Sunday March 20, 2016, senior adults
60+ are invited to the first of many dinners
scheduled for the third Sunday of every month. We
will begin at 12 noon directly after the 11 am
service in the fellowship hall. The cost for the dinner
meal will be $7.00 per person upon registration with
Marge Zima before March 13, 2016. If paid by a
check, make it payable to Northwoods Methodist
Church.
Instead of striving to hear each other in a
crowded restaurant, come and enjoy a good meal,
fun fellowship, great speakers and entertainment
plus you pay a reasonable price.
MARCH NEWS
FROM THE PRESCHOOL
Dear Northwoods United Methodist Church Family,
We are in the month of Registration, otherwise
known as March! Registration begins March 1st for
children already enrolled in NMP, their siblings, and
Church members. Open House is Wednesday
March 16th. Other than September, this is the
busiest month of the year. In addition to
registration, we have Green Eggs and Ham to
celebrate Dr. Seuss’s Birthday, we usually go on a
field trip to the Lynwood Park Zoo and we will have
our Easter Egg Hunts and parties because Easter is
early this year! We hope to see a few signs of
spring by then!
We will soon be having our Flower and Plant sale
Fundraiser and don’t forget, if you do any spring
cleaning, we would love for you to donate your
unwanted stuff to the preschool for our annual
Spring Yard sale! We appreciate your support no
matter what time of year it is! Happy Easter!
Learn, Grow and be Blessed,
Linda Johnson
Men are invited to attend the Methodist Men's
breakfast on the second Thursday of each month,
at 0730 (7:30 AM), at the Golden Corral on N
Marine Blvd (near the Walmart).
Please continue to donate food for the Food
Pantry. The point of contact for the food pantry
is Rafee Saba. Thanks to the Scouts for providing
canned goods to the pantry from their annual
Scouting for Food event on 13 Feb!!!!!!!
We had such a great time with all of you at
the last Christmas party that we're already
thinking about the next one. Mark your calendars
for the Methodist Men's 2016 Christmas Party - 10
Dec 2016.
Reminder - Methodist Men's Renovators does
basic home maintenance jobs, in return for
donations, to support various Methodist Men's
programs (Scholarships, etc.). If you have jobs
for the Men's Renovators for the fall, please
submit your ideas to any Methodist Men member,
and we will assess if we have the expertise to do
them, and then schedule them accordingly.
Methodist Men started a new Bible study on 8
Jan 16. The book is entitled "Dangerous Men."
The men will meet each Friday at 0600 (6:00
AM), at the church Fellowship Hall. If you wish to
join the study, books are available from Kevin
Barth for $8.50. This study is designed to
challenge and empower men to be strong,
courageous, and conquerors for the Kingdom of
God. If you want to be DANGEROUS MEN FOR
CHRIST then come and start getting empowered.
Next meeting is scheduled for 8 Mar 2016 at
6:00 PM (1800). Given we have a joint meal with
the Lydia Circle, the Lydia Circle is responsible for
food and clean-up for this meeting. Please
remember to bring your dues ($5.00 per month
or $60.00 per year). This funding is essential
toward meeting some basic expenses per year.
PRESCHOOL
FUNDRAISER
The Preschool is having a plant and flower sale for
its spring fundraiser. If you are interested in
purchasing flowers, please fill out the order form
and return to LeighAnn Swigart or directly to the
preschool office. All plants will be delivered to the
preschool and available around Mother’s Day. The
funds raised can provide the school with additional
funds for classroom needs, improvements,
playground equipment, curriculum, etc. Order
forms and money are due back the 24th of
March. Please make checks payable to Northwoods
Methodist Preschool.
The plants and flowers we received from the sale
last year were beautiful and grew very nicely. They
should arrive around Mother’s Day.
HISPANIC MINISTRY
Blessings in the name Jesus Christ!
God is good all the time, is good to know that
even when we are not faithful He is still faithful.
His loves endures forever. I give thanks to the
Lord for His son Jesus because of Him heaven’s
door was and is still open for all that believe in
him. The month of February has been a busy
month. Lay Missioner training for module one
is almost over, one more Saturday in Apex and
Alma García & Elba Bonilla are going to be
finished. Then, they will have to go again for
four more Saturdays in April. Please pray for us
as we continue with this journey. We had a
quinceañero this past Sunday. Happy Birthday
to Brendy Zacarías she is new to our church
and we had the blessing to celebrate her
birthday with us in Church. We had other
birthdays this month: baby Ian Vargas, baby
Lían Valentino Congratulations to all of them.
May God bless you,
Carmen Casillas
Lay Missioner
Bendiciones en el nombre Jesucristo!
Dios es bueno todo el tiempo, es bueno saber
que aun cuando no somos fieles es todavía fiel.
Su ama es para siempre. Le doy gracias al
Señor por su hijo Jesús debido a él del cielo
puerta fue y sigue abierto para todos los que
creen en él. El mes de febrero ha sido un mes
ocupado. Pone entrenamiento misionero para
el módulo uno está casi encima, un sábado más
en el ápice y Alma García & Elba Bonilla va a
ser terminado. Entonces, tendrán que ir de
nuevo durante cuatro sábados más en abril.
Por favor oren por nosotros mientras
continuamos con este viaje. Tuvimos un
quinceañero este pasado domingo. Feliz
cumpleaños Brendy Zacarías es nuevo en
nuestra iglesia y hemos tenido la bendición de
celebrar su cumpleaños con nosotros en la
iglesia. Hemos tenido otros cumpleaños este
mes: Ian Vargas del bebé, bebé Lían Valentino
Felicitaciones a todos ellos.
Dios te bendiga
Carmen Casillas
Lay Misionero
COUNCIL ON
MINISTRY
Your church council met February 18.
Thank you to the many leaders who were
present to do the very important work of the
church. We passed policies regarding finances,
the budget, and ministry fund request forms.
We approved policies regarding building usage
by outside community groups. Most important
we heard details on our upcoming faith in
action projects. Please be watching in the
bulletin, newsletter and website for information
on all the ways we will be connecting with the
community.
Our next meeting will be Thursday March 17
in the Fellowship Hall.
We are excited to continue the work of the
Lord. Come join us!
The Shift leadership will travel to Garner on
March 19, 2016 to receive valuable training on
the topic of Worship. This team is working
hard to move Northwoods forward to shift from
traditional thinking while fulfilling our Mission &
Vision.
Relay for Life
Relay for Life is coming, the dates are April 15th
and 16th. It is being held at Northside High School.
We are painting the world purple and being
superheroes.
If you are a survivor of cancer, please see me to
register for the survivor walk. If you want to
participate as a member of the Northwoods Team,
we need to get you registered. You can go to
www.relayforlife.org, team page is Northwoods
UMC.
If you have any questions please contact me at
[email protected] or 910-330-2035.
MFM
MILITARY FAMILY MINISTRY
Please join us for our Deployed Spouses Dinner
this month for a menu featuring a Baked Potato
Bar!! We need donations of time and/or food
and supplies to make the night a success. We
also would love to reach a broader audience so
PLEASE spread the word to any Family
Readiness people you know, any families with
deployed service members, etc.
Details are -->
 The playground will be open at 5pm and
dinner will be served at 5:30. After they
eat, children will have the option to
make a small craft, play on the
playground and/or watch a movie
 Please join us if your active duty service
member is deployed or simply working
late.
 Your RSVP is VIP (very important) in
order to plan the menu. Hope to see you
there!
Please send an email to:
[email protected] OR to
[email protected] to be added to the
EVITE list or if you would like to volunteer.
Hospitality Corner
During lent we will be adding to the altar with
the different parts of the wilderness journey. The
items that are being added are the following:
Tree limb, clay pot, clear jar, baby breath, water
pitcher, and ending with the Christ candle and the
palms.
Jennifer Hulse, Hospitality chair
GREETERS
Mar 6
Mar 13
Mar 20
Mar 27
8:45
11
8:45
11
8:45
11
8:45
11
am
am
am
am
am
am
am
am
Available
Available
Available
Available
Available
Available
Available
Available
Greeters – If you are interested in
greeting at services, please let Jennifer
Hulse know! 910-330-2035 or
[email protected]
Church General Fund
Statement of Activities as of January 31, 2016
• Revenue
$ 24,004.40
• Operating Expenses
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Evangelism/Outreach
Education
Ministries
(Children, Youth, Adult, Family)
Connectional Apportionments
Worship
Stewardship/Finance
Trustees
Administrative
Pastoral Support
Personnel Expense
–
–
Total Operating Expenses
Operating Income (Loss)
$0
$237.90
$94.92
$1,655.00
$698.84
$47.51
$3,811.47
$658.86
$844.87
$5,725.89
$ 13,775.26
$ 10,229.14
Mar 6
Available
Mar 13
Garris
Mar 20
Available
Mar 27
Available
2016 Financial Requirements
(Note: All Calculations are based on 90 Giving Units)
Debt Retirement
Funds Required Monthly
$5,165.39
Need $57.40 per month from each giving unit
General Fund
Funds Required Weekly
$3,917.57
Need $43.53 per week from each giving unit
2016 Must Pay Budget per Giving Unit:
$188.62 (General) Plus $57.40 (Debt)
$246.02 per month
2016 Dream Budget per Giving Unit:
$237.18 (General) Plus $57.40 (Debt)
$294.58 per month
USHERS
Mar 6
Mar 13
Mar 20
Mar 27
8:45
11
8:45
11
8:45
11
8:45
11
am
am
am
am
am
am
am
am
-
Randy Fitzgerald & Al Ruiz
Zachry & Charlene Nichols
Rick & Pattie Baldwin
Zachry & Charlene Nichols
Tavita Saelua & Derrick Mangas
Zachry & Charlene Nichols
Jim & Cheryl Moody
Zachry & Charlene Nichols
Ushers – If you cannot be there for a Sunday,
please FIND A REPLACEMENT and let Jennifer
Hulse, Hospitality Chair know ASAP! Thank
you!
Date
Feb 7
Feb 14**
Feb 21
Feb 28
Average
8:45
8:45
8:45
8:45
8:45
**Scout Sunday
Worship
- 82/ 11 - 82/ 11 – 96/ 11 – 102/ 11 - 91/ 11 -
68
123
90
67
87
Sunday School
47
50
49
n/a
49
March 2016
Birthdays
Anniversaries
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
Rachel Moser
Lisa Codwise
Katie Walsh
Tory Soukup
Elizabeth Foxx
Sawyer Whitsitt
Henry Reinewald
Pattie Baldwin
McKenzie Miller
6
7
8
9
Bryan Jewell
Cody Lemmon
Susan Walsh
Bonnie
McDonald
10
11
12
Adam Barth
Kristin Sabel
Theo Tice
David Stengrim
Savannah Urzua
Jared Johnson
Christy Jenks
13
14
17
18
19
Kate Karr
Bradley Slater
15
16
Kayleigh Jewell
Carolyn Beard
Cheryl Moody
Roger Brault
Andy Unsworth
Debra Miller
Frank Miller
Amy Whitsitt
Ryan McTigue
Dallas &
Stephanie
McNutt
Andrew &
Kari Dennison
20
21
Hannah Fox
22
23
24
25
John &
Jamie Hardy
Griffin Faleris
John &
Susan Walsh
Glenn &
Louise Collins
Alfredo &
Wanda Ruiz
Rick Baldwin
RayeAnn Heap
Benjamin Ross
Martha
Humphrey
27
Colton Leighton
Douglas
Johnson
Zachry Nichols
28
29
30
31
26
Preschool Open House
March 16
6:00 – 7:30 pm
Make plans to join us!
Northwoods United Methodist Church
1528 Gum Branch Road
Jacksonville, NC 28540
910-346-9727
www.northwoodsumc.org
Bishop Hope Morgan Ward…………………Raleigh Area
Rev. Linda Taylor…………Sound District Superintendent
Carmen Casillas......…………………..Hispanic Ministries
Roger Brault………………...……...….……….Lay Leader
Elizabeth Soukup…………………..……Church Secretary
Linda Johnson…..……………….……..Preschool Director
Jared Johnson….…...…...……………………....Custodian
Rev. Dr. Jerry D. Lewis……………………………..Pastor
Church
Office Hours
Monday – Thursday
9:00 am – 2:00 pm