AUMC NEWSLETTER
Ayden United Methodist Church
P.O. Box 335, Ayden, North Carolina 28513
Telephone – 252-746-6524
September 19, 2012
From the Minister’s Desk
This week, the cool crisp morning air has reminded me that the seasons are about to change again and that although it may seem like we have just begun our time together, we’ve actually been alongside one another in ministry for nearly three months now.
I have spent much of that time listening. Listening to the members of this church tell their stories. Listening to the frustrations that we sometimes encounter in living life together. But most of all, listening to the hopes and dreams of this congregation as we look toward our shared future.
I have also been listening to the words of scripture, particularly Proverbs 29:18, which reminds us that “without vision the people perish.” This refrain has been running through my mind since we began our work together in July, highlighting the important role that a shared vision plays in the life of a local congregation.
Sometimes this verse is used to initiate program changes in the church, or to bolster a capital campaign or building project, because it seems to clearly say, “We need to set goals for our church—or else!” When in fact, this verse has the potential to be even more powerful and transformative if we pause for a moment to consider the word translated here as “vision.”
In Hebrew, this word for “vision”—chazon—has nothing to do with setting goals. It is neither practical nor programmatic; it is prophetic. It’s the same word used throughout Hebrew scripture for the way that the Old Testament prophets receive the word of God. The book of Isaiah begins with a vision. The prophet Daniel received his vision in a den of lions.
Vision, in this sense, is not about a list of goals or a five-year plan—it is about listening intently for the voice of God. It is about being a community that waits eagerly for God to reveal the future plans that he has for us, and about having the courage to act on those plans.
Over these next few months, I want very much for our church to enter into a time of collective visioning in the sense that I have spoken about here. I want us to still our hearts, and to ask some very specific questions as a community. I want us to ask these five questions: Who are we? Why are we here? What do we believe? Who are the people in our community who are not currently committed to Jesus Christ and what would it take for us to reach them? And finally, what is God calling us to be and do in this community in this next season of ministry?
I pray that if we spend time together in conversation, asking these questions and discerning the spirit at work among us, we too will receive a vision that will lead us into an exciting new chapter of ministry together!
Rev. Jim McConnell
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Homecoming 2012
Homecoming—the act of coming home. That is exactly what Lib Stroud Campbell is doing…coming home to Ayden. Lib, the daughter of Helen and Clay Stroud, grew up here, attending Ayden Christian Church and graduating from Ayden High School…Class of “64. She earned her B.A. degree from Meredith College. After raising a family [note: she and Tom Campbell have been married forty-seven years, and have two children and four grandchildren], and spending many active years in her local Methodist Church, she returned to college and earned her Master of Divinity degree from Duke University.
Lib is now retired as Pastor Emeritus of Spiritual Formation at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Raleigh. She leads Spiritual Formation Retreats in her ministry called Tending the Garden of the Soul. She also writes a blog called avirtualchurch.com, and facilitates a group in lectio divina, a prayerful reading of the Scriptures at St. Mark’s.
Lib’s Homecoming sermon is titled “Heritage and Blessing.” Her scripture choices for the service are Psalm 22:25-31, and Matthew 5:1-12a. In addition, Lib’s sister, Laine Stroud Lipson, will provide special music. The Worship Team is very excited to welcome Lib and Laine home to the church of their grandparents. –by Camilla Godwin
Homecoming Dinner
Immediately following the Homecoming Service in the sanctuary, lunch will be served in the Fellowship Hall to all church members and visitors. Please plan to bring your favorite dish(es) and leave it(them) on one of the tables in the hall of the Stroud Building, or put it in the fridge if needed. Special Whitehurst BBQ will also be on the menu!
Calendar of Events
Tuesdays, 11:00 a.m. – Bible Study
Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m. – Prayer Team Meets
6:00 p.m. – Tone Chimes
7:00 p.m. – Chancel Choir
Thursdays, 11:00 a.m. – Pack Backpacks
09-23-12 Homecoming – 11:00 a.m. (No early service)
10-06-12 Yard Sale to Benefit Ayden Christian Care Center
10-07-12 Worldwide Communion Sunday
11-04-12 All Saint’s Sunday – Communion
11-11-12 Veteran’s Sunday
11-18-12 Christmas Shoeboxes Dedication Harvest Table Decorated
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New Sunday School Class
Danny Harris is leading a newly formed Sunday School class in the study of the Gospel of John in the New Testament. The class is for the twenty-to-forty-somethings of our church. In addition to increasing their understanding of the writings of John, one of their initial goals is to outgrow the small space in which they meet…and they have almost met that goal, already! Come and join this group and help set some even bigger goals to aid in the growth of our church!
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A Good-Bye
Few of us at Ayden United Methodist Church can say we have not interacted with Harvey Gwyn in one way or another over the past many years that he was involved in our church. Whether it was in the choir, in a Sunday School class, a Bible Study group, a family-night dinner, in the grocery or drug store…wherever it might have been…something about the encounter was almost always memorable. That twinkle in his eye as he started to speak, was the only warning he gave before zinging the listener with a question, a tease, a barb…never to hurt, but always to get a reaction and/or to create thinking!
Harvey left us with a wealth of “Harvey-isms:” memories of thank-you and birthday notes or calls, time spent to make a child feel important when family issues were making him feel less than important, personal jokes that many times reflected on earlier ones, caring and asking about all our extended families (and remembering most of their names!), and the obvious love and pride he had for his own family.
At age ninety-seven, our oldest church member left us; but his wit, concern and love for our church family will continue in our minds and hearts.
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New Conference Leaders
Our new conference leaders can be “met” at web- sites on the internet. North Carolina Annual Conference Bishop Hope Morgan Ward’s website is: www.nccumc.org/bishop. Read her bio and other information, then click on “Districts Meet With Bishop Ward,” to see her introductory video.
The new District Superintendent of the newly formed Sound District (of which we are part) is Linda Taylor. Her website: www.sounddistrictnc.org. Click on “About the Sound District” to read about her.
Family Fun Day
On August 26th, the families of AUMC had a day of worshipping, eating, and enjoying the fellowship of our church family. It began with a coffee social between the two services and ended with a homemade ice cream competition, with many enriching activities in between!
Following a hot dog and salad lunch, a variety of classes and opportunities was offered, including arts and crafts, music, and sports activities (badminton, corn hole, ladder golf), plus classes and discussions for adults. The Records and History Team used the afternoon to work on the church scrapbook.
What a good start to the fall launch of our established and newly formed Sunday School classes. Thank you, Betty Smith, for your leadership in coordinating this successful event, and to the many others who gave of their time and talents.
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A Veteran’s Story!
[Our beloved Dr. Ed Levin shares one of his wonderful stories for our Veteran’s Day highlight…in his own words:]
“Ed Levin served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. He was an Air Force medic. His first assignment was at Camp Kearns, Utah, near Salt Lake City. His next place of service was in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. He landed at Attu after a marvelous sea voyage marked by amazing sea sickness. Ed didn’t sleep very well since his bunk in the hold of the victory ship was in the process of inventing Rock and Roll. There were fifty or more happy soldiers trying to throw up into one bucket. None of us earned the marksman’s badge despite our best efforts. Since the atmosphere below decks was something less than stimulating, Ed spent most of the time on deck, shivering but happy, mostly.
“From Attu, Ed was transferred to the nearby island of Shemya. He went to work in the dispensary of the 204th Squadron of the 11th Air Force, which had four-engine B-24 Bombers. The B-24’s were bombing the Japanese Kurile Islands and associated shipping. The trip to and from the target was long, cold and impeded by heavy fog and strong cross winds.
“As time went on, Ed was put in charge of the dispensary where he treated minor illnesses and injuries. Any serious cases or wounded crew members went directly to the base hospital. No one ever shot at Ed in anger or in any other mood.
“The base personnel soon learned to appreciate Ed. Two men showed up on sick call one morning with slight colds. Ed gave each man 4 oz. of elixir of terpin hydrate with codeine (which is no longer on the market). After gratefully drinking it down and before they had become unaware of their surroundings, they loyally told their buddies who was passing out the spirits. The major, our medical officer, put an end to Ed’s largesse by giving the next “sick” men 1 ½ oz. of the elixir.
“Ed served 33 months in the USAAF. After declining the request to re-enlist, Ed was flown home to Ft Dix, NJ and by train to Manhattan, NYC, and to his dear wife and son Ed, Jr. He planned to become a mechanical engineer, but God had something else in mind.”
Youth News
Fall Calendar:
Sunday, 09-16 – This was MYF Kickoff, with games, devotion time, and hands-free meal!
Sunday, 09-30, 2:00-5:30 pm – Outing to Captain Bly’s Shipwreck Cove in New Bern mini-golf, arcade
Sunday, 10-14, 2:00-5:30 pm – Outing to Briley’s Farm
Sunday, 10-28, 2:00-4:00 pm – Meet at church weather permitting, will walk to park for games, devotion time and snack
Sunday, 11-04, 4:00-7:00 pm – Meet at church shopping for shoebox materials, dinner and packing of shoeboxes for
Operation Christmas Child…please bring additional items (new) for shoeboxes ( i.e. art supplies, toothbrushes, toothpaste, small toys, etc.)
Sunday, 11-18, 2:00-4:00 pm – Meet at church games, devotion time, make Christmas ornaments
Sunday, 12-02, 2:00-4:00 pm – Meet at church decorate Christmas tree, make treats to sell at Christmas Parade
Thursday, 12-06, 6:30 pm – Meet at church Ayden Christmas Parade sell hot chocolate, coffee and treats beside the church as a fundraiser
Sunday, 12-16, 4:00-6:00 pm – Meet at church go Christmas caroling, followed by party
–by Allyson Meyer & Dee Stroud
Youth Sunday School Class:
The Youth Sunday School Class is exploring the topics of justice and holy living. The students have looked at ways they can bring hope to people in our town who need it most. One of the ways discussed was to donate food and volunteer time to the Ayden Christian Care Center. We also discussed how we can live holy lives by reading, praying and applying scripture in our daily lives. By learning God’s word, we realize that the Holy Spirit brings it back to us to help us when we need a defense against the enemy. In Ephesians, Chapter 6, we learned why it is important to honor our parents and respect those in authority over us; and that if we do, we receive a promise from God that things will go well for us and we will live a long life. We also reviewed Ephesians, Chapter 6, and learned more about the “Armor of God” and how to be strong when faced with conflicts. We invite all the teenagers to join us in the Youth Class every Sunday.
Calling All Youth to Pilgrimage, November 9-11:
This year’s Youth Pilgrimage at Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, NC, promises to be a great weekend with dynamic speakers and music. Andy Lambert, a featured 2012 Pilgrimage Speaker, has a special passion for reaching youth for Christ. His preaching connects people across generations and cultures. He is considered by many to be the funniest man in youth ministry today. Also speaking at Pilgrimage is 19-year-old Zach Hunter, author, activist and honored by CNN as a modern day hero. Zach launched the “Loose Change to Loosen Chains” campaign while in 7th grade. He and his school and youth group students raised awareness and funds to help end modern day slavery a problem facing 27 million people in the world today. Today, students around the world are doing the “LC2LC” campaign. He’s leading a new generation of activists who are putting their faith into action to address some of the most serious problems facing the world today. You won’t want to miss the chance to go to Pilgrimage as an Ayden Methodist Youth. Go to http://nccpilgrimage.org/ to learn more about the events. Contact Tammy Buck now at 524-3611 to sign up. Early registration is taking place now! –by Tammy Buck
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How Mournful!
In today’s times, the tradition of a funeral is one of a gathering of family and friends to see and re-acquaint with each other and to share in grief, all of this with quiet dignity. It was the usual custom of the Irish to celebrate the person’s life with partying and drinking, while declaring that the deceased had moved on to a better life.
In the Bible, one’s love for the departed was shown by the amount of grief that could be poured out at the funeral. This was to be accomplished by the volume of noise that was to be made. Into this scene came what seems to us as an odd profession—the professional mourner. When necessary, these weepers and wailers were booked for the occasion and then sent to the departed one’s home for the ceremony. Most likely, the professional mourner wouldn’t even know the dead person; and for some who really needed it, this was a source of income.
At the appointed time, the mourners would come in, find a good spot, compose themselves and begin to wail. If the involved family had the means, musicians were brought in to accompany the weeping/wailing with tambourines, drums or flutes. Mourners could be both men and women and they could indeed sing along, too. Upon leaving the house, the procession would then move through town to the burying spot. We can imagine the noise.
Jesus was called to the house of Jairus, in Mark, Chapter 5, in which Jairus’ daughter had died. Jesus said she was only asleep. In this case, the mourners and musicians had already set up in the living room.
Another Biblical custom upon death was that the man or woman would be buried as soon as possible. There was no waiting for kinfolks to come from miles away and no time to lose, since the body begins to decompose shortly after life ceases.
The professional mourner goes all the way back to the time of Jeremiah, Ch.9, v.17 and Amos, Ch.5, v.16. Quite a way to go! –by Bill Norris
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Our Sympathy
We extend our sympathy and caring to the families of two members of AUMC whose recent deaths have left a void in the lives of our church family. Johnni Barber and Harvey Gwynn are remembered fondly and missed sorely.
Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s Love to children in desperate situations around the world. Since 1993, Samaritan’s Purse has collected more than ninety-four-million boxes. The mission of Operation Christmas Child remains the same. What has changed over the past nineteen years is the enormous growth of the project—a dozen sending countries and territories, more than one hundred thirty receiving countries, over 500,000 volunteers. This year Operation Christmas Child plans to reach the 100 millionth child!
Last year over eight million boxes brought smiles to the faces of children the world over. Beyond the boxes themselves, these tangible expressions of God’s love open doors to share the greatest gift He offers—the gift of the Savior.
This year, through a generous donation, we will have GO boxes. These boxes come to us flat with easy assembly—no more hassle trying to wrap the top and bottom of a box. They are red and green with the logo of Operation Christmas Child and are the size of a standard shoe box.
Once again, it is time for the members of Ayden UMC to think about preparing our boxes. This is our fourteenth year of participation in this ministry which is based right here in our own state. Our total to date is eight hundred fifty-two boxes prepared with love and filled with hopes and prayers that they find their way to the child who needs them most. Fill your box with toys, school supplies, hygiene items, hard candy, etc. Your boxes will need to be in the church sanctuary in time for their dedication on Sunday, November 18. Brochures will be available beginning in mid-October.
As always, our hope is for “one more than last year!” Our goal will be ninety-five. Join us in spreading “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10) to children across the globe.
Questions? Contact Donna Harris at 746-2297 or Camilla Godwin at 746-6979. –by Camilla Godwin
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Local Art Show
The Ayden Collard Festival Art Show called out to all artists and a number in our church heeded this call. Congratulations to Gary Bawtinhimer, John Curry and Page Worthington for their beautiful photographs! All won ribbons for their efforts…in fact, Gary won a ribbon on each of his three entries. Between them, they had eight entries in the categories of Wildlife and Landscape. In the Youth section, Iris and Daphne Meyer entered photographs they had taken on their summer trip to Washington (state), and Nathan Stroud entered three pieces of original artwork.
The Art Show committee owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to Andrea Norris for her efforts in keeping a scrapbook of each year’s show. This scrapbook is a “work of art” in itself, thus qualifying her as an artist, also! –by Camilla Godwin
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Thank You!
Thank you to Donna and Danny Harris for the gift of a beautiful crystal pitcher to the church. It will be used during the sacrament of baptism, holding life-giving water which will be poured into the baptismal font. The symbolism in seeing that water through the glass of the pitcher, and hearing it as it flows into the font is very powerful. –by Camilla Godwin
Poinsettias
It’s never too early to begin thinking and planning for the holidays. Anyone interested in placing a poinsettia(s) in the church during the Advent season may do so by contacting Camilla Godwin at 746-6979. She will order the flowers and place them in the sanctuary after they are delivered. Your only responsibility will be to pay for yours and then to remove it (them) after services on December 23rd. Our order is limited to thirty-six, so go ahead and get your call in early. –by Camilla Godwin
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Eva Cade Sunday School Class
The Eva Cade Sunday School Class has just completed study on justice, drawn from the Adult Bible Studies International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teachings. With teachers Mary Alice Davenport, Bill Norris, Marlene Salyer, Sandra Jones and Tammy Buck, we learned that by treating everyone justly, we are doing God’s will. While simply put, we came to see that behaving justly toward all may not be something we actually do well. We looked at how justice is defined, how it was enacted in the Old Testament and how we can be a people of justice today. We asked ourselves if we fall short in seeking justice for the oppressed in our community. God is the source of unfailing justice. Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (NRSV) reads, “What does the Lord your God require of you? Only to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord.” We acknowledge that we have fallen short of God’s standard, but with God’s help, we can be a people of justice, working for justice in our community, as God intended. All ages are welcome and invited to join us in our next series on “Faith,” from the books of Hebrews and Acts. –by Tammy Buck
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Heartfelt Thank You!
“Every time I think of each of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with great joy; for you have been my partners throughout my journey as I experienced this issue of health.
“Again, thanks to each of you for sharing Jesus with me through your actions of generosity. Your love and compassion have given me much joy and comfort. May the good Lord continue to richly bless each of you.” …from Betty Jo Sumrell
[Ed. note: This has been a shared blessing for all of us at AUMC, as we have watched this very special lady’s courageous battle to regain much of her quality of life. A true Life-Lesson.]
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Congratulations!
Congratulations to Patti Burke on her selection as Teacher of the Year at Belvoir Elementary School where she teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) to young, non-English-speaking children. She was chosen for this honor by her peers at Belvoir.
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Editor: Page Worthington
Associate Editor: Andrea Norris