AUMC NEWSLETTER
Ayden United Methodist Church * P.O. Box 335, Ayden, North Carolina, 28513 * Telephone – 252-746-6524
April 4, 2012
Sowing Seeds
Seasons come and seasons go. There is a cycle to all things in the universe. Just as winter’s cold grasp holds the world until the warmth of spring’s warm light gives birth and new life to the world, so too in our journey of life, we change with the seasons. In the fall or winter we prepare the soil so the seeds we plant might find root deep in the soil, so they might hold fast when the harshness of the weather tears at the new plant. There are seasons to sow and to plant. There are seasons to harvest. My season here at Ayden United Methodist Church was to plant new seeds. Sometimes seeds that have been planted bear fruit but the seeds that are harvested from the plant are not strong because of disease or overuse. It takes new and fresh seed to have strong and fruitful plants. I came and tilled the soil and planted new seed.
It was stated by a few here at Ayden that I came here with an agenda, and I did. My agenda was to listen to God’s voice and follow Jesus through the Holy Spirit to wherever it led me and the church. The voice I heard called for change, to grow, to become strong, to follow Jesus, to reach out to the community in service, to be inviting, to love, to hold each other accountable for who we are supposed to be—the body of Christ. Just as in the parable of the sower there are many types of soil, some rocky, some hard, some with thorns, and some that are fertile. The sower sows the seed; the ground that receives the seed determines how the plant will grow. The body of Christ requires participation from everyone, it is inclusive, the harvest is great, and the need is for many workers that bring many gifts to the field. I worked hard to find those workers who had a heart for Christ and a spirit that was willing to be led by the Holy Spirit. To accomplish this, it meant new workers with new ideas and gifts that would be willing to be bold for Jesus and not accept the status quo. Jesus expects us to bear fruit and change people’s lives by living the gospel and the gospel never accepts the status quo.
I was so excited when I came to Ayden, and I leave with that same excitement. I have seen the potential that is here waiting to be let loose. The next pastor will be in my prayers. My prayer will be that they will love you as I have loved you. Although my time here has been short, I have truly enjoyed being in ministry with each of you. The ability to see growth in so many people in the church has been a blessing. I have given you my best. I have prayed for you daily. I have loved you with my whole heart. I have been a faithful witness for Christ. I have had to make hard decisions but that is part of the call to lead God’s people. Being a follower of Jesus Christ has never been for the faint of heart. In the days and weeks to come we will continue to move forward…there is no such thing as a lame duck pastor when it comes to ministry. There are meetings to attend, visits to make, sermons to write, people to love and ministry to be completed.
I bid you all good bye. I hope the seeds that I have sown have strengthened the church and touched your life in a positive way. In the days and weeks to come I will depart and you will welcome someone new. I pray that their gifts and talents will continue to move Ayden UMC forward. I was glad to be a servant for Christ in your midst.
Al Hocutt, Pastor AUMC
Sunday School Survey
As most of you know, the Sunday School attendance has been decreasing with each year. We, as members of the Education Team, are seeking the input of all the members of AUMC as to what can be done to improve participation. This is a short questionnaire and should not take long to complete. Thank you for helping us learn more about how to encourage more involvement in the programs of AUMC.
1. I attend Sunday School on a regular basis. Yes No
2. I have children who are attending SS on a regular basis. Yes No
3. I have children who are of an age that they could be attending SS but they do not. Yes No
4. I have ideas of how to improve attendance at SS. Yes No
5. Which of the following need to be changed/added to enrich the SS program?
a. Study/Instructional Materials
b. Crafts
c. Food
d. Music (vocal and/or instrumental)
e. Bible Studies for Sunday morning
f. Regular Sunday night programs for children and adults that would include Bible study, food, crafts/games, music, etc.
g. Other
6. I am an adult but have not been attending SS due to no class for my interests. Yes No
7. If answer to question 6 is “Yes,” please tell us what your interests might be.
Thank you for your time and thoughts. Please drop your completed survey by the church office or leave on the table in the narthex in the next few days.
–The Education Team
ACCC Yard Sale
A little rain did not deter the volunteers who manned the yard sale, last Saturday, benefitting the Ayden Christian Care Center. Moved from the parking lot into the Fellowship Hall, the sale netted $1,049.00, plus an additional $285.00 for Bill and Bunny Clothier’s unique birdhouses…giving the ACCC a total of $1,334.00. Dishes, glassware, clothing, toys, purses, electronics and home-baked goods were among the items sold.
AUMC members involved in the sale were Jim and Madelaine White, Bobbie Brown, Bill and Bunny Clothier, Stacy Bawtinhimer and Shelly Cooper. They are most grateful for the excellent quality and number of items donated for the sale. Bunny pointed out that $1,000.00 buys 5,500 pounds of food for the center to distribute to families in need.
Continuing in Love
Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels unawares. –Hebrews 13:1-2
As we continue along our journey of faith, we encounter so many different people. Some are easy to love while others are more difficult; and we have to remind ourselves that Christ commands us to love everyone we meet, whether brother, sister or stranger. For all are created in the image of God. And all are precious in God’s sight.
For a gift of $5.00, you can honor someone with whom you share your faith journey while helping a woman, child or youth in need. The gift could also be in memory of someone who touched your life as you were beginning your faith journey. All proceeds from this project go to United Methodist Women Mission Giving.
Honorees will receive a card letting them know that they have been honored and by whom. This is a wonderful way to recognize a birthday, anniversary, special accomplishment, or to let someone know how much you appreciate him/her.
Give your donation (checks payable to Ayden UMW) and list of honorees to Camilla Godwin…746-6979.
–Camilla Godwin
Pass the Honey
(or Grape Syrup), Please
All of us like the thick, very sweet product of the beehives that can be used in recipes and desserts. It is a natural sugar. Fortunately, honey can be had at a good price and we don’t have to run the risk of bee stings as those in the Bible had to do to secure it. I have read that honey is the food that never spoils.
There was another type of “honey” to the Jews which was not the real thing. This type of “honey” was grape juice which had been boiled down until it was thick with the consistency of molasses. Since grapes were usually in greater abundance than the actual bee product, this manmade “honey” was easier to obtain. In Genesis 43:11, Jacob sent gifts by his sons to Pharaoh in Egypt to buy grain. These gifts were balm, spices, nuts and grape syrup (“honey”). Along with these, Jacob had to send his son, Benjamin, too.
Grape syrup “honey” was also another commodity that the Jews used for trade with other nations as mentioned in Ezekiel 27:17. This grape syrup was used as a sweetener, like jam or mixed with water like a beverage. As with grapes, sweet syrup was also made with dates and called “date honey.”
We see several references to honey in the Bible. Psalms 19:24 says, “Pleasant words are like honey.” Who knows—David and Solomon may not have been referring to the real beehive product.
–Bill Norris
Welcome New Choir Director
We welcome Rosa Creech as choir director for AUMC. Rosa began her duties in March, and has already blessed our services with her beautiful lyric soprano voice. A graduate of UNC-Greensboro with a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance, she also serves as a private vocal instructor at the Music Academy of Eastern North Carolina.
On April 21, Rosa will marry David Marsh, a student in the new dental school at East Carolina University. David is already participating in our choir and playing the piano for the early service. Rosa is looking forward to working with tone chimes and with our youth.
–Andrea Norris
Youth News
The youth of our church have been very active with a variety of fun activities in March. A visit to Camp Don Lee, a youth family cookout, and a Sunday afternoon of painting flower pots and filling them with spring plants were enjoyed by many youth.
The following activities are planned for the next several weeks:
April 7 – Easter Egg Hunt
April 25 – MYF Meeting, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
May 13 – Camp Don Lee Open House
[This will be a good time to get to know the camp for those going for the first time, and a good time to get excited about camp for those who have already been. Excellent food will be available.]
June 3 – Bowling, 3:00 p.m.
–Allyson Meyer
And Now You Know…
Did you ever look at the Paraments on Sunday morning, the cloths on the pulpit and altar table, and wonder why the colors change at different times of the year or on special occasions, and if there is a schedule of sorts or just someone’s color choice for the week? (Not that your mind would wander during the service… just before or after, certainly!) Now you can put your mind to pondering the more weighty questions of life, because these are the meanings and seasons behind the color changes.
Purple – used during Advent…a time of preparation, and Lent…a time of penitence.
White – symbolizes joy. It commemorates the pivotal points in the life of Jesus and is used at Christmas, Easter, and other special days.
Red – symbolizes the work of the Holy Spirit. It is used on Pentecost and for Ordination and Installation, and for church dedications.
Green – symbolizes “Ordinary Time,” which is generally the two time periods between the seasons of Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter.
And now you know!
Sympathy
Our church family grieves with the families of Corabob Turnage and Caleb Buck as they mourn the loss of these loved ones. We care.
Memorial Day
As the end of May approaches, there are different thoughts in the minds of many of us. For many of our younger folks and some older ones, too, it’s a day off from school or work…a time for the beach or cookouts or short trips and lots of fun. For others of us, there are thoughts of a parent, sibling or friend who was injured or killed in the service of our country. “Lest we forget…,” is often a phrase used in special Memorial Day services.
In our church, we are fortunate to have several former members of the military. Two will be highlighted here. Look for more to be in this space when Veteran’s Day nears in November.
Bill Clothier retired from the U.S. Navy with the grade of Master Chief Petty Officer and thirty years service. A few years ago, Bill and his five brothers had a reunion and spent some time remembering their individual stints in the military…a total of 69 years and three Purple Hearts among them. Can you imagine the worry and pride this gave their mother!
Martha Liggett was sworn into the U.S.Naval Reserves on August 24, 1943. Heeding the daily radio messages to “help your country…join the Navy…be a WAVE,” she had to get her father’s written permission to join since she was under 21. After basic training, she chose the Hospital Corps. Martha has chronicled her experiences on a base in New York state as she achieved Hospital Apprentice first class, then on to Pharmacist Mate third class, and the meeting and marrying of her husband Edward.
Ronald McDonald House
Ayden UMC began collecting can tabs for the Ronald McDonald House in 2004. This house serves as a home away from home for families who do not live in the Greenville area and have sick children in the hospital. To date, we have collected 883 pounds of tabs (approximately 1,324,500 tabs). A gallon zip-lock bag holds about two pounds of tabs.
We have collected them for four families, two from our congregation and two that are friends of members of the congregation. Several schools and businesses have helped us through the years with this project. Under the efforts of Max Stroud, 1,500 tabs came from a military group in Iraq, and are now imbedded in a special window in the Durham Ronald McDonald House in special recognition.
Help us to continue this project by putting your tabs in the container on the table in the Stroud Building. If you have too many for the container (how wonderful would that be?!!), simply leave the bag beside the container.
–Camilla Godwin
Bible School
“Operation Overboard,” is the title of this year’s Bible School program…Monday-Friday, July 16-20. It’s time to “dive in” and discover our underwater universe. Dare to go deep with God.
Calendar of Events
April:
Sat., 7th – 11:00 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt – Hot dogs
Sun. 8th – 6:30 a.m. Sunrise Service & Breakfast
8:45 a.m. Early Service
10:55 a.m. Traditional Easter Service with Special Music
Mon., 9th – 7:00 p.m. Church Council Called Meeting
Tues., 10th – Final Tuesday Mornings with Al, lunch at Rucker Johns at 12:30 p.m .
Sun., 15th – 7:00 p.m. Church Council regular meeting
Sat., 21st – 7:00 p.m. First Annual Sharing Our Blessings Concert to benefit Ayden Christian Care Center, hosted
by First Baptist Church, featuring Men of Faith and Heavenly Sunshine
Sun., 22nd – 3:30 p.m. MYF
May:
Sun., 13th – Mother’s Day Service
Youth Outing, Camp Don Lee Open House
Sun., 27th – Memorial Day Sunday
June:
Sun., 3rd – Youth Outing, Bowling
Sun., 17th – Father’s Day Service
Occurring on a regular, weekly schedule :
Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m., the Prayer Team meets in the Sanctuary
Thursdays at 10:00 a.m., Backpacks are packed for distribution at Ayden Elementary School
Backpack Buddies
Our Missions and Evangelism Teams are sponsoring Weekend Backpacks. This program helps supplement meals for hungry children during the weekends at home…away from the breakfasts and lunches provided in school. Backpacks containing food and religious materials will be distributed to twenty-five students at Ayden Elementary School each Friday in a very private manner…their classmates will not be aware of the situation. The empty backpacks will be returned to the church on Mondays. The teams hope to expand the program to Ayden Middle School in the near future.
Ayden Christian Care Center will help in obtaining some of the food and our volunteers will bring the items to the church on Thursday mornings. Our church is responsible for financing and for supplying the volunteers, so please help these teams in their support of this important endeavor. Your monetary donations should be written to AUMC, with “Backpack Buddies” written in the memo space. Your time can be given on Thursday mornings at 10:00 a.m. to prepare the bags for their Friday delivery.
Contact Stacy Bawtinhimer for further details.
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Editor: Page Worthington
Associate Editor: Andrea Norris