A Place to Call HomeDo you have somewhere that truly feels like “home” for you? The scriptures of Easter speak time and again about the family of God, of loving one another as brothers and sisters, as children of God.

Several times, the Word invites us to “abide”, to reside, to dwell in the presence of the Risen One. Jesus promises to always be “home” for us. We are never alone, even when it feels like death and defeat have won the day. Before Jesus ascended to heaven, he told his disciples he was going to prepare a place for them, a home for them. But until then, it is our hope and prayer that FVUMC serves as the place you find your spiritual “home.”

Home is a safe space for bringing all of who we are, wounds and all, and where we may journey together as a family toward wholeness. We are loved by God. We are loved by each other. We are safe to be vulnerable. We are connected and cared for. There is a place at the table for all, and there is always room for one more. There is a place to call home.

A Place to Call Home Message SeriesApril 3 A Place to Call Home

April 10 All Are Welcome

April 17 You’re Family

April 24 Always Room for One More

May 1 A Place at the Table

May 8 Always Blessing, Always Blessed

May 15 What’s Mine Is Yours

The WellspringApril 2016

Fuquay-Varina United Methodist Church

Helping Hands Ministry Needs You!In the 12th chapter of Romans, Paul encourages the followers of Jesus to reflect Christ’s love through action in the world. One of the ways we are told to do that is to “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15).

The Helping Hands Ministry here at FVUMC is one way that we mourn with members of our congregation by preparing and serving a meal to families in our church grieving the loss of a loved one. Served before or after funeral or memorial services, the meal not only relieves the family of the responsibility of preparing a meal that day, but also gives them a chance to spend time together as a family sharing memories and stories. Most of the time, the meal is served here at the church.

When there is a death and the family would like a meal, members of the team are contacted via email or

phone and given the opportunity to help with food donations, set-up, serving, or clean-up. The church provides the ham and chicken for the meal, but the rest of the menu items are donated by members of Helping Hands team.

On average, it takes 15-20 volunteers for each meal, and there is currently a core of 6-8 volunteers who help almost all the time! We ask that you prayerfully consider participating in this important ministry. It is an honor to serve our congregation at such a time of loss, and everyone who participates receives far more than they give!

After prayer, if you feel led to participate as a member of the Helping Hands team, please email Susanne Young at susanneyoung@msn.com with the words “Helping Hands” on the subject line or call Susanne at 919-552-7503 to add your name to our calling list.

Habitat Wall-Raising Begins Fuquay BuildDid you know that the average rent for a two bedroom apartment in Wake County is $918 a month? This requires a minimum annual salary of $36,720. A family of four, with two adults each working at a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, only earns an annual salary of $30,160 and is not enough to afford the rent for that two bedroom apartment.

Habitat for Humanity of Wake County helps families secure quality affordable housing along with the benefits of homeownership. FVUMC has the privilege of working alongside a coalition of local churches, businesses and community groups to build a home in the Consolidated Pines Neighborhood for Marquida and her family. Marquida has recently graduated from

the Police Academy and is a newly appointed Deputy. She and her two children will be relocating to Fuquay-Varina. We have reserved several dates for our church to participate: 4/9 Siding; 4/23 Interior Trim; 4/30 Siding and Trim; 5/14 Paint & Exterior Finish. You can help by working on the build site, contributing to the lunch for the workteam, sponsoring a welcome basket for one of the five families building homes, and most importantly by praying for this project and the families. Please sign up directly at http:vhub.at/fuquayvarina2016. To help with the lunches, please contact Carolyn Jackson (cbjnquay@gmail.com) or Lydia Walton (lwwalton6@gmail.com). For questions, reach out to Michelle Canada, mfcanada1@aol.com, 812-219-5553.

Celebrating our Children’s

Support of Habitat ProjectThis Lenten season, Quay Kids and preschool families participated in “Coins for Lent” and raised over $600 for our church-sponsored build for Habitat for Humanity.

While collecting coins helped our families mark the season of Lent, it also allowed our children the a chance to have hand in making a difference for the families in Fuquay through Habitat for Humanity!

2

Costa Rica to Guatemala: Connecting with our ZOE Group “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,

and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it,

you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39

February 29, I had the opportunity, along with Rob Pavone, to visit the youth FVUMC supports through ZOE Guatemala working group. During the three days we spent with our kids and other working groups, I can truly say “I saw God at work everywhere!”

Day one, we joined a team from a UMC in Texas that supports 3 working groups including a group that is about to complete the 3-year program. Immediately, we saw the connection between the working group and Billy from the Texas team. You could see the light in the eyes of the youth – someone out there cares and loves us enough to set their life aside and be with us.

On day two, we were blessed with the opportunity to meet the working group FVUMC supports. What an amazing group of young people, ages 14-17! Their dedication to one another and their families (each has an average of 3-5 siblings) is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Some of the boys walk 1 ½ hours; some of the girls ride 2 buses for 1 ½ – 2 hours.

They have constructed a small place to meet and conduct their group business making 250 tamales, rellenos, or chuchitos. They buy ingredients Thursday, prep Friday, and gather at 5am Saturday to make and sell their product. On top of this, they each have a personal business and take care of their families; 8 attend school in the afternoon. Our group was so excited to meet us and to share the food they make!

With great pride, they also showed us some of their personal businesses. Three of the youth have learned to cut hair and gave us a demo on each other. One young girl sells used clothes door-to-door. Others raise animals. Jennifer makes perfumes to sell. (Jennifer’s mother could not pay an extortionist in Guatemala City so they came to her house, killed her mother at the door, shot her little 7-year old sister in the eye, and a brother in the leg.)

One of the most humbling experiences I have ever had was being so warmly welcomed into their homes. By our standards,

they live in extreme poverty, yet they were so proud to welcome us and show us their homes and their businesses. We prayed with each of them. Even more humbling was that they prayed for us.

Jesus spoke a lot about relationships. This trip once again reinforced how important it is for us as the church to “go.” On several occasions, I had the opportunity to kneel and speak to one of our youth. In broken Spanish and through a translator, I was able to connect on a personal level. One young lady broke into tears talking about strife in her family. When another girl broke down for the same reason, I was able to simply rest my hands on the first girl’s shoulders as she stood in front of me in tears for her friend. I could feel her sink into the comfort of a loving touch. This was a God moment. And there were many.

It is my hope and prayer that FVUMC will visit our group twice a year. It is so very important to these kids who have to live as adults and parent their siblings. Carla with ZOE Guatemala and The Living Heritage Foundation got very excited at the prospect of Karen coming to Guatemala and teaching infant massage. It is our hope that Karen, Angelee, and I can return to visit our group in mid-September, and again for Easter 2017. If the logistics work out, we hope that some of you can come join us. Knowing that there are people in NC who pray for them, and some will set their lives aside for a few days to visit, means more than any amount of money; it is invaluable.

Yours in Christ, Les Page

Les & Rob with FVUMC’s ZOE Working Group

The building the group constructed for their food business 3

Serving and Sharing: Clothing Closet Is 5/7

The Clothing Closet is a ministry offered quarterly to provide free clothes for those in need in the church and community. Our guests receive a Christian welcome, breakfast, printed devotion, and help finding what they need. To make this outreach possible, it takes many hours of setup to organize donations. Ways you can share the gift of your time:

• Help bring the clothing from the sheds into the centrum. Trucks needed! Wednesday evening 5/4 at 6:30pm

• Organize and sort donations Thursday 5/5 from 9am-4pm and Friday 5/6 from 9am-2pm

• Offer a warm greeting to our guests (or help clean up) at the give-away on Saturday 5/7 from 8-10am. Cleanup immediately following

• Donate trash bags or baked goods/breakfast items.

Donation Tips• Separate items by type/size (ex: Ladies Medium).

This is a huge help for sorting!

• Use bags that can be tied at the top and tie them so items can’t fall out. Don’t overfill bags - it makes them difficult to manage.

• If donating anything with sharp edges, use a box instead of a bag.

• Eliminate a step by bringing donations directly to the Centrum the Thursday before a give-away instead of dropping things off in the sheds.

Contact Heather Williams for questions at 919-818-0453 or williams2002@nc.rr.com.

Hygiene Items Needed Wake Interfaith Hospitality Network is coming to FVUMC the first week of May. Did you know that we put together welcome bags for each WIHN family? Support WIHN by donating items on our wish list. Keep all items small because the families move to a different church each week. There is a container in the lobby for donations.

• Deodorant• Shampoo• Toothpaste• Toothbrushes• Soap• Disposable

razors

• Dental floss• Baby powder• Band-aids• Shower caps• Travel baby

wipes• Sewing kits

• Pencils, pens• Small notepads• Feminine

products • Combs• Hand sanitizer

Kids’ package: • Coloring books, stickers, crayons, colored pencils• Pencils, pens, rulers, erasers• Kids scissors, handheld pencil sharpeners• Composition notebooks, notebook paper• Small toys (paddle ball, jump rope, yo-yo,

matchbook cars, small stuffed animals)

Fuquay-Varina Food PantryApril Requests: Canned vegetables & beans, granola/protein bars, hand sanitizer. Donations of other food and

household items are always welcome. Bring donations to the baskets around the corner from the Welcome Center.

Grassmowing MinistryIf you like to work the good earth, the Grassmowing Ministry needs you! Join us in this season of cutting grass, trimming bushes and maintaining the grounds. We provide training and equipment (or bring your own). Team members serve once every 8 weeks from April to October (usually Saturday morning). Contact Joe Jackson at joe.f.jackson@gmail.com or 919-434-6971 for more information.

Circle of Faith MeetingsUMW Circle of Faith meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at 10am. All women are encouraged to attend! This is a community of women whose purpose is to know God, to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ, to develop a creative supportive fellowship, and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.

Tuesday, April 5 ~ 10:00am Room 117Tuesday, May 3 ~ 10:00am Room 117

4

Getting to Know the ChurchThe current sermon series is all about A Place to Call Home. Fuquay-Varina United Methodist Church is a growing and vibrant faith community comprised of people from different cultures with a variety of church backgrounds who together call FVUMC “home.”

Some have called The United Methodist Church “home” for years while others are just finding their way into the family! There are many wonderful things to learn about the UMC! Several times each week, I find myself clicking onto NCCUMC.org which is the website for The North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church! If there is anything you need to know about the denomination, this website is a great place to start!

Going to that website, if you look at the top of the page, there are lots of places to click. Take the “A to Z” tab for instance. It has everything from ….well A to Z! The Calendar tab shows what’s on the schedule around the conference. It has a District tab that shares information specific to each of the eight Districts in NC. (Our “home”

is the Fairway District by the way!) Under the Leadership tab you can find all kinds of things. When visiting the Bishop’s section, you can find “Connections.” Click “Connections” to watch the weekly 2 to 3 minute piece in which the Bishop speaks to a variety of interesting topics. Click the Ministerial Relations tab and you will find guidance on exploring a “call” to ministry. A click on the Service tab will put you in touch with missions. Want to know more about Annual Conference, General Conference, Congregations 4 Children, or the whereabouts of a favorite pastor? It’s a click away!

Whether you are new to the family or have been around for a while, drop by the website and see what the church is up to! The United Methodist Church is a global, connectional community. It is committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. It’s a great place to call home!

Blessings, Pastor Valerie Tyson vtyson@fvumc.org

A Place to Call HomeBut go; tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ Mark 16:7

I grew up in the home of a Methodist preacher in eastern North Carolina back in the day when Methodist preachers moved every four years. In fact it was church law, and no matter how well things were going or not going, when one’s four year assignment was completed, it was time to move. And so we would pack up our belongings, say our tearful good byes and head to Daddy’s new church assignment. But, honestly, after four years, I was always ready for a new adventure and frankly I kind of liked being the “new kid.” However, when people ask me where I am from, I always say I am from eastern North Carolina. In other words, I don’t really have a place to call home.

On that resurrection morning when the women returned to the tomb to complete their task of preparing Jesus body for burial, they discovered the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. An angelic messenger was sitting where Jesus had been laid, saying, “Don’t be alarmed...He has risen! He is not here.” The messenger said that Jesus would meet them at the Sea of Galilee, the place they called home even before their lives were changed forever by him.

Here is what I know: Jesus promises to always “be home” for us. We are never alone, even when it feels

like death and defeat have won the day. Are you waiting to feel like there is somewhere that truly feels like “home” for you? Before Jesus ascended to heaven, he told his disciples he was going to prepare a place for them, a home for them. But until then, he was going to build a “home” for them here on earth. That home is called the church.

Our new message series is called, “A Place to Call Home.” Our hope and prayer is FVUMC is a place many will call home, a home where all are welcome, where people feel like family and where it safe to be vulnerable. Home is where everyone is accepted, it is a safe space for bringing all of who we are, wounds and all, and where we may journey together as a family toward wholeness for we are loved by God.

I hope you join us each Sunday as we share these wonderful post-resurrection stories where Jesus invites everyone to come home, where there is a place at the table for all. Invite one of your unchurched friends to join you this Sunday, and perhaps they may find a home as well!

We’ll keep the light on for you! Pastor Gene Tyson, gtyson@fvumc.org

5

In Our Thoughts and Prayers

We offer our prayers and sympathy to:

• Lewis Cockerill on the death of his sister• Joan Thomas on the death of her aunt

John Cotten, Christy Carver, Jim Dewey, Clarence Byrd, Becky Estep, the family of Robert Kinton, John Chambers & family, Diane James & family, Jim & Becky Alexander, the Tompkins family, Edith Meus, Kurt Johnson, Craig Judd, Tim Moff, Carole Drake, Anne McCandlish, Bruce Wynne, PJ Ramsey, Nathan Ter Meer, Derrell Sapp, Coy Jones, Gus Prince, Maxine Senter, Betty Palmer, Glenna Eargle, Anderson Ward, Doug Bennett, Mike Tucker, Joan Lesher, Nancy Patrone, Bob Pavone, Ron Richardson, Dan Sass, Mary-Anne Hatch, Koyla Knox, Judy Dolan, Cornelia Coble, Vicky Croft, Tom Myatt, Lois & David Stuart, Jakob Kish, Mario Marchese, Rob Matney, Iris Brown, Logan Thomas, Dee Chisenhall, Jeff Fox, Emily Ashworth, Clay King, Jill Zatyko, Sue Simkiss, Bill Young, Howard Hanmann, Fran Applegarth

The resurrection of Jesus is – and should be – a catalyst for change in our lives. In the light of Easter, everything can be made new!

For the month of April, we are looking at how to activate this new life in Christ – as well as what things can hinder our growth.

On Sunday evenings, Lifeline is shifting to its coffeehouse format. Middle and high school students meet together from 4:30-6 p.m. (Note the new time!) so we can eat snacks and discuss the night’s topic together.

As we talk about activating our faith in Lifeline, I hope you will see the story to the right for ideas to build your relationship with your teen. Carey Nieuwhof’s article gives some great ideas I hope your family finds helpful.

He is Risen! He is Risen indeed! May that joyful fact shape each of us and our families.

Bobby Rackley Director of Youth and Family Ministries

brackley@fvumc.org

Youth & Family Ministries

Parent Corner: Activating Your Relationship with Your Teenager

Excerpted from an article by Carey Nieuwhof

The teen years take away some of a parent’s favorite opportunities to connect, like bedtime stories and pick-ups from school. So what do you do? Change your strategy. Here are some ways to connect that are unique to the teen years:

BE AROUND: Sometimes parents are tempted to buy their kids affection or attention. Losing your 13 year old? It’s easy to think you can win their heart with a new iPhone. As a parent, never substitute a present for your presence. In fact, one of the greatest gifts you can give your teenager is your presence—simply being around. It’s the unscripted moments that often produce the greatest conversations. No one expects it, but parenting a teenager may actually take more time than parenting a toddler. Even if your kids don’t feel like talking to you, they’re glad you’re around.

EAT TOGETHER: As your kids get older, it’s easier to let them fend for themselves at supper. Don’t. Plan family meals. And eat them together. Make it a priority. Sometimes the meals are 10 minutes long, but they are an anchor point.

LEVERAGE DRIVE TIME: Some of the very best conversations I’ve had (and still have) with my sons happen when we’re driving somewhere. Being beside each other in the car is a lot less intimidating than sitting down for a “talk.” It’s actually easier to be vulnerable and honest when you’ve got an hour on the road together with little more to do than chat.

TAKE A DAY OFF WITH THEM: Throughout high school, I’d invite my sons to take a day off school. I’d take a day off work and we’d spend the day together. School is important, but sometimes a day off is needed to reactivate a relationship. What we did on those days mattered less than the fact that we just took some time to be together. The goal wasn’t to accomplish anything in particular other than letting my kids know the most important thing on my calendar was them. One day, all you’ll have left with your kids is relationship.

TRY THIS WITH YOUR TEEN: This month, commit to focus on one of the four strategies that Carey talked about above. Plan for it and make it a priority. It may just activate your relationship with your son or daughter in a whole new way.

6

Seeds of Faith PreschoolWe are certainly enjoying this great weather! April is a busy time. We are practicing graduation songs & getting ready for that big day, graduation of our 4 year olds in May. On April 23, we partner with Kids NPraise & provide a supper before the annual musical and hold silent auction. This annual fundraiser for the Preschool helps us purchase items for the children’s wing including carpets, playground mulch & sand. We still have openings in the Preschool for Fall 2016. If you know someone who is looking for a terrific place for their children, please call the Preschool office.

Lynne Sorrels, Director (919) 557-1568

Family Dinner TheaterJoin us on Saturday, April 23 for an evening of great food and entertainment…

• 5:00 pm - Dinner sponsored by the Seeds of Faith Preschool. Barbeque ($6) or Hot Dog dinners ($4). Get tickets from preschool or at the door. Silent auction gift baskets in the lobby.

• 6:30 pm * - The 2016 Kids NPraise spring musical “The Kingdom Connection”

When you step into The Kingdom Connection, the Bible comes to life! You leave the modern world behind and enter into the ancient world of kings who lived over 2000 years ago! We will be able to peek in on a few defining moments in Bible history, and learn from the lives and choices of these kings.

* Musical admission is free, and free nursery care provided for our youngest audience members.

Thank YousPalm Sunday - A huge thank you to all of the adult and youth volunteers for your help with our Palm Sunday Celebration this year! Thank you for helping us experience Holy Week and Easter in an exciting way!

Pine Straw - Many thanks to all those who supported this year’s Music Ministries Pine Straw Sale! This endeavor was once again a great success with record sales, and we are so appreciative!

New at FVUMC? Come to Starting Point

Join us on Sunday, April 2 at 9:30 and 11:00 am for Starting Point and get connected with the small groups and activities that resonate with your life and interests. Open to anyone, no registration needed. Children’s Sunday School and Nursery available for all sessions. We’ll gather in the Conference Room (109) on the Adult Wing.

Drum Roll, Please…This year’s Vacation Bible School theme is Cave Quest where we will be “Following Jesus, The Light of the World.” Registration will be online-only this year. It opens April 1 for church members and volunteers and for everyone beginning on April 20. The deadline for registration is June 13. Here are some ways you can help:

• Sign up to volunteer during VBS - Our volunteer sign-up begins April 1 for daytime and evening VBS. When you register as a volunteer, you also get the opportunity to register your children for VBS!

• Donations and Scholarships - If your days of volunteering have ended, there are other ways to help! Consider helping with decorations, activities, and donating snacks, gift cards. Watch for the Cave Quest display in the lobby toward the end of April.

• Decorations, Decorations, Decorations - Are you ready to see large stalactites and stalagmites in the Centrum, a cave in the hallway, and subterranean wonders popping up everywhere? Join our decorating team to help make our Cave Quest come alive!

If you are interested, contact Angela Hinton (tinkerbell1969@hotmail.com) or Amanda Rackley (arackley@fvumc.org) for more details.

Teen Valley Ranch Summer 2016Rising 3rd - 12th graders are welcome to participate at TVR summer camp on July 11-16. Go to fvumc.org/tvr2016 for information, forms and online payment. Deposits are due by April 14. For questions, contact Sandra Bass at basshouse@embarqmail.com. 7

Spring CleaningWhile tidying up the platform and spring cleaning for the Holy Week services, we decided to simplify the area around the steps and reduce the number of silk trees and potted plants. The plants have graced the platform for many years, and a big thank you is in order for those responsible for placing them in the centrum. If you are interested, the silk plants will be on the back wall in the chapel until Thursday, April 7 should those who placed them in the centrum wish to claim them. After April 7, the plants will be donated to Habitat for Humanity.

Another noteworthy item that needs mentioning is the “lost and found” baskets. You may have noticed that our baskets are running over with all sorts of good stuff. The clothing looks as though the owner would be delighted to find it! Please check the baskets to see if your lost item is among the others. Items left in the baskets will be periodically donated to the clothing closet. They need a good home!

Boy Scout Troop 320’s Van FundAn Applebee’s pancake breakfast fundraiser is Saturday, April 16 from 7:30-10am at the Fuquay Applebee’s. Tickets are $7 at the door. Support the Van Fund (vans are used for monthly camping/activities, summer camp, and a week-long trip at spring break).

Pancake Fundraiser for Cub Scout Pack 320

A pancake fundraiser at FVUMC is set for April 2 from 7-11am. Cost is $6 and includes coffee, juice, pancakes, and sausage. Proceeds will help supplement costs for books and programs for the boys and summer activities. Purchase tickets in advance from any Cub Scout or at the door or online at https://www.eventbrite.com/pack-320-pancake-fundraiser-tickets-22765361810.

April Book Club: The Housekeeper

and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa

Narrated by the Housekeeper, the characters in this poignant tale are known only as the Professor and Root, the Housekeeper’s 10-year-old son, nicknamed by the Professor because the shape of his hair and head remind the Professor of the square root symbol. A brilliant mathematician, the Professor was seriously injured in a car accident and his short-term memory only lasts 80 minutes. He can remember theorems and favorite baseball players, but the Housekeeper must reintroduce herself sometimes several times a day. The Professor, who adores Root, is able to connect with him through baseball, and the Housekeeper learns how to work with him through the memory lapses until they can come together on common ground, at least for 80 minutes.

To join the dinner and discussion on Friday, April 15 at 6:30pm, contact Suzanne Jones at dsjones@nc.rr.com or Matilda Storm at matildastorm@embarqmail.com.

PrimeTimers Meet 4/19 Everyone 50 and over, come on Tuesday, April 19 to the choir room at 10:00am for our next PrimeTimers gathering. We do fun and exciting things, usually learn something, and have great food, too. For more information, call Debbie Corr at 919-557-7437 or email her at debcorr@nc.rr.com.

At the TableDid you grow up around a table? I did. Until I was in my teens, my parents, no matter how busy they were with work and church, made sure that we stopped, gathered, and ate together. Typically this was around dinner time. Around 6:30, mom would call out, “Dinner time!” We came and gather and ate together—an American tradition, if not a Christian one too. No matter what mood we were in, we gathered around that table. Prior to eating, my sister and I could be at each other’s throats, but dinner was a short but necessary cease fire. I love my sister, but she was certainly my enemy, at times—and I was hers too.

That memory touches upon what coming to the Table is all about. When the church gathers around the table to celebrate communion, we sometimes gather with people we do not like. Yet, for us to eat and share in the meal, we are to call a truce. Unlike the one between me and my sister, a false peace, it’s a real peace made possible by Jesus. Jesus offers a better example as on the night in which he was betrayed, he shared his last meal with his disciples. Judas, who sold him out, was included in that bunch and so was Peter, who later denied ever knowing Jesus. Frankly, on our own will and strength, we are unable to make amends with our enemies. It is only by the grace of God that we are able to find peace with one another. For in Christ, we can say that all are welcome to the Table—even my sister.

Pastor Matt Seaton mseaton@fvumc.org

8