The SPARK N e w s l e t t e r o f N e w C a s t l e U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h

Pastor’s Ponderings

The end of another calendar year is fast approaching. Daniel Benedict, from the General Board of Discipleship, recently posed the question, “Why would you gather the faith community on New Year’s? The competition is stiff; folks have plans made. Indeed, why should the church try to compete? Perhaps competition with the world’s party isn’t the point. Maybe the point is that Christians also mark time, although differently than the secular world. New Year’s Eve/Day is a good time to reflect back and to look forward with eyes of faith in the company of other believers and with God. It helps to get some perspective. The people called Methodists have a long tradition of making covenant with God at the New Year, although most today do not practice covenant making in the rigorous way of the early Methodist. Perhaps we don’t expect enough of ourselves or each other? Maybe as pastor, I’m too understanding when I accept that life happens while we are making plans, even plans to be the church. I wonder how most in our congregation would respond if one needed to attend X-number of small group classes and worship services to be admitted into a fellowship activity? Maybe a little reward is what is needed to motivate those of our number who begin their conversations with me, “You don’t know me, but I’m a long-time member.” After 18 months, should they have come to meet me or I them? A dilemma for any pastor: Is my time better spent nurturing the members who do come to encourage you in your discipleship efforts or should I try pour hours into trying to make contact with those who choose not to come out (and I’m not talking about shut-ins)?

I’d like to share a quote with you from John Wesley, written Sunday, January 1, 1785: “Whether this be the last or not, may it be the best year of my life! Sunday, (Journal, Works of Wesley). What a way to look at the New Year! How do we get some of that attitude? Perhaps it is many years of making covenant with God that gave Wesley that attitude. I really do not worry if this is my last year on earth; however, this idea of requesting the New Year to be the best in my life . . . That is very appealing and being part of the body of Christ, the best comes in community. Each year since 2006, I have celebrated a Covenant Renewal. I feel by renewing one’s covenant with God is a sound footing. Covenant-making is serious business. A yearly service allows time for reflection about commitment one is about to make. Traditionally this requires preparation as well as a means of sustained support and accountability afterward. I would hope that anyone making this covenant would not try to water it down by making a covenant they have no intention of trying to keep. There is no way to lighten it up and have it mean anything Benedict stresses that the Covenant Renewal Service is not a seeker’s service. He compares it to the difference between Thanksgiving afternoon touch football vs. the fully-conditioned professional game. I get his point. But, when I read his article, the thing that struck me first was, “How do I ask the seekers to stay away on Sunday morning?” I was too quick, reading a bit further, he suggests that churches hold these type services in the evening. A completely separate service! I guess he assumed that only those ready for the rigors of true discipleship, or those who were ready to strive after that type of relationship with Christ, would be the ones to come out on Sunday evening.

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My mind then took another free-fall—how many would show up? Cynical? No, reality is that our attendance is down on Sunday morning with two services. Maybe Benedict has been in the Monday to Friday, 9-5 world so long he has forgotten that most churches’ members work crazy hours, 24/7, just to have a job and grandparents do childcare. Is this me being too accepting . . . ? Perhaps this idea of personal accountability, which we claim we have, isn’t such a bad thing. In the early days of Methodism, the class leader kept track of the members’ attendance at meeting and tickets were issued. Worship attendance here has been tracked for many years, even though small groups have disappeared. There is a simple beauty in the small group. The purpose is different than worship. Wesley would be the first to say that it isn’t either/or but both/and are ways we show works of piety; spiritual growth happens. Spiritual growth is an on-going life-long process. It can be undertaken alone, but it is greatly enhanced by being in a small group. Besides, why would anyone want to go it alone when there are others on the journey?

Although New Year’s Eve or Day is when Wesley would hold a Covenant Renewal Service, I know our attendance will be down in much of January and I want as many of you to participate as possible. Last year, I combined it with the Ash Wednesday evening service. Here again, many did not come out, perhaps unable to drive after dark.

This service is too important in the life of the congregation, so it will be held on Sunday, February 1 at 10 AM. May the peace of Christ be with you as one year comes to a close and another begins.

Pastor Sue

SNOW IS COMING! tune into 99.5 WJBR

for our Church closings

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Lent 2015

I know, I know, Christmas is barely over and I’m talking about Lent already. With Ash Wednesday on February 18, if I wait until the February Spark, you would tell me I didn’t give you enough time. Time for what? Time to let me know what days and times you would like to have a Lenten Bible study held.

I very much like Wednesdays; however, with the Ministerial Alliance suppers held on Wednesdays, I can’t use Wednesday evenings. Now’s your chance! Please drop a note or call the office to say what day and time is best for you. Perhaps you would prefer a half or whole day Lenten retreat this year. If so, you need to tell me. It doesn’t have to be an either or type decision, I would hold both a retreat and a study, if I hear back from you. By the way, Easter is April 5. There will be the Sunrise Service on the wharf and a service in the sanctuary at 10 AM.

Committees

A big thank you to the chairpersons who are leaving office after a year of

faithful service:

Rick Schiller (Finance) Dave Gordon (Trustees)

Valarie Kennedy (Worship)

We appreciate all of your efforts for the betterment of NCUMC and for

bringing God glory by you and your committee’s efforts.

Meetings Just a reminder: If you are unable to attend a meeting, please notify the chairperson of your committee. Committee chairs; as a way to help ensure good attendance at your meetings, email or call your committee’s members a few days in advance to remind them of the meeting. Bring your calendars so meetings can be set for the year. We do not yet have the date for Charge Conference, so there may need to be changes made to meeting dates or additional meetings to prepare for the Conference.

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Church Council These meeting begin on Monday, January 5th at 7 PM and will continue every other month on the first Monday.

Ken Bright continues as the chair for 2015.

Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) The first meeting is set for January 20th at 7 PM. There will be the training session to begin the year. This

committee meets four times a year... The other dates are Feb. 17th, June 16th, and Oct. 20th. Faythe Waterloo also continues as the chair for 2015.

Trustees

Meetings continue monthly, on the second Tuesday at 7 PM. Mike Bellafore begins a new term as chair of this committee.

Lay Leadership and Nominations

The training meeting will be held in February. The pastor is the chair of this committee and Sharon Kimmel will continue as Vice Chair. Meeting dates will be set at this meeting.

Finance

The Finance Committee dates are not yet scheduled Drew Kiley begins his term as chair.

Member Care

The first meeting of this committee will be posted soon. Eleanor Allione continues as chair.

Worship

The date for the first meeting of this committee also has not yet been set. Janet Stutzman is the new chair.

Outreach

The date for the first meeting of this committee also has not yet been set. Barbara Gordon continues as chair.

Missions

The Missions Committee will meet on January 13th, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. Gary Burgmuller continues as chair.

Church Council These meetings begin on Monday, January 5th at 7 PM and will continue every other month on the first Monday. Ken

Bright continues as the chair for 2015.

Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) The first meeting is set for January 20th at 7 PM. There will be the training session to begin the year. This committee

meets four times a year... The other dates are Feb. 17th, June 16th, and Oct. 20th. Faythe Waterloo also continues as the chair for 2015.

Trustees

Meetings continue monthly, on the second Tuesday at 7 PM. Mike Bellafore begins a new term as chair of this committee.

Lay Leadership and Nominations

The training meeting will be held in February. The pastor is the chair of this committee and Sharon Kimmel will continue as Vice Chair. Meeting dates will be set at this meeting.

Finance

The Finance Committee dates are not yet scheduled Drew Kiley begins his term as chair.

Member Care

The first meeting of this committee will be posted soon. Eleanor Allione continues as chair.

Worship

The date for the first meeting of this committee also has not yet been set. Janet Stutzman is the new chair.

Outreach

The date for the first meeting of this committee also has not yet been set. Barbara Gordon continues as chair.

Missions

The Missions Committee will meet on January 13th, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. Gary Burgmuller continues as chair.

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birthdays

Celebrate Wishing everyone celebrating a birthday in January a very Happy Day!

1 Tom McDowell Madison Whary

3 David Gordon, Jr. Kelly Verbonitz 4 Sara Leckie 5 Herbert Daspher 6 Erika Lea Saienni 7 David Gordon, Sr. 8 Zachery Kern

Geraldine Wilkerson Cory Christian Joines

9 Tracey Hoopes 11 Olive Boyer Alice Karr Mildred Wample Harold Wilbur 12 Louis Roberts

Leon Tucker Stephanie Charles

13 Susan Easom

14 Stephanie Shamrock 15 David Maxwell 16 Christopher Otto

Tina Anderson 17 Kitty Hammond

James Warrington 18 Hannah Daspher 19 Lafayette Moore 21 Robert Groves, III 22 Ron Brittingham

Robert Easom 23 Janet Nichols 25 Diane Barnette 26 Alberta Austin

Robert Miller Virginia Wilhelme

27 Alexandra Lee Ciaffi 28 Janice Barlow 31 Sarah Rigney Ken Henretty

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Debbie Parkhurst Chris Corday Stephen Dalecki Grace & Thomas Neiger David Warner Helen Hoagland Ron Pochvatilla Alice Pleasenton Vera Warner Hoover Counterman Jean Shustack Gerry Wilkerson Bea Reynolds Robert Quigley Margaret Wilhelm Gail & Jeff Meersand Herbert & Hannah Dashper John Thorpe Cheryl Franklin “Pop-Pop” Singletary

Derek Arvison Darlene Cole Anna King Abby Steven Helen Nick Asbury Hunley Richard Wilkinson Larry & Amanda Kathy Gary White John Davis Family of Henry Dalecki Hurd Family Ms. Stewart Clair Darby Bill Cramer Kitty Hammond

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SUNDAY WORSHIP First Sunday

10:00 am 2nd thru 5th Sunday 8:30 am & 11:00am

Monday-Friday 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Administrative Assistant

Mayra Caballero

Rev. Susan C. Czarnecki