the Word A publication of First United Methodist Church of Hendersonville, Inc.

204 Sixth Avenue West, Hendersonville, 28739 828.693.4275 fumchvlnc.org January, 2016

That All May Know Christ, Grow in Faith and Serve Others

What’s Inside

2 Congregational Care/Missions

3 Missions

4 Wonderful Wednesday

Programs & Menu's

5 Weekday School/Youth

6 Children’s Ministry

7 Administrative

Core Value # 3 Demonstrate Purposeful Christ-centered Worship I am writing this on December 9th, the day after our 7th Annual Gifting Party. Thanks to the efforts of many volunteers we

hosted four hundred children from the Boys and Girls Club and shared with them the opportunity to share gifts with the

important people in their lives. I am still inspired by everything I saw and heard last night!

Yet, one thing that I heard secondhand has stayed with me throughout the day. A staff person from the Boys and Girls Club

shared with me the excitement of a nine-year-old boy as he took his seat on the bus that would bring him to our church. “Miss

Amy!” he called out. “I am so … JOYFUL!”

Of all the words you might expect from a nine-year-old to express his enthusiasm, “joyful” would be pretty far down the list!

Yet, that was what he was feeling on his way to us, and this is what he said.

It occurs to me that during the Christmas season, we too learn an expected vocabulary. “Peace on earth, Goodwill to all and

joy to the world” just to name a few! One of the blessings of worship – especially this time of the year – are the words that we

learn or perhaps re-learn. This is why our core value to “demonstrate purposeful, Christ-centered worship” is so important.

Without worship, we wouldn’t know what to say, or just as sad, we would be left with the same old words everyone expects to

hear. Fearful words, hurtful words, pessimistic words. These are the expected words.

Thanks be to God that we have learned new words that are so wonderfully unexpected they could have only come from God;

words of goodwill and peace that help make all of us be … what’s the word? JOYFUL.

Warmly, Reverend Dr. Mark Ralls

December 8, 2015 Boys and Girls Club Gifting Party a Resounding Success! Thank you to all of you who helped make the Boys and Girls Club Gifting Party the great success it was!

A listing of all who participated would be too long to provide here; however, we send a heartfelt thank you to all of you who

participated by:

Donations, gifts and money to buy gifts Gift sorting and organizing

Gift movers Decorators

Setting up and/or tearing down Cookie bakers and food and refreshment providers

Refreshment and craft table workers Baggers and wrappers

Children’s Goodie Bag workers Escorting

Church staff help Party Boulevard time and decorations donation

Providing piano music – Ann Ettinger and Joe Pucilowski

All measurable aided in making the party a memorable success. You are caring

people who come together for a wonderful ministry and your efforts are greatly

appreciated. One only needs to see the joy on the children’s faces and

hear their comments on the love and caring

shown them by the escorts, the merchandisers, and the craft and

refreshment table workers to feel the value of our efforts.

You all made the party a great success and make us proud to be part of this

Church and this special event!! Thank you!

The Boys and Girls Gifting Party Leadership Team

Paige Boyd Madeleine Duncan Noreen Elshaw

Jean Faulkner Donna Hastie Sandy Hastie

Sandra Macklem Sharon Mendelsohn Beckie Ouderkirk

Janet Rayfield Christy Sharp

THANK YOU! For your support of ZOE’s children this past year,

thank you. Some committed to contributing each year to partner

with a child in a ZOE working group. Some contributed on a regular b

asis throughout the year. Some have contributed once or twice or more.

Some contribute through Christmas Shopping for Missions. In whatever

way you have supported our ZOE working groups, it has made a difference in children’s lives in Kenya, Rwanda and India. We

have completely paid the three-year commitment for our first three groups, one of which graduates in December. The two

groups we partnered with this year, the Amahoro group in Rwanda and the Rise to Win group in India, are already paid for the

first two years. Because of your support, Jean Claude has a latrine at his home, built by the children of his working group with

the roof and door supplied by our money; Angelique has received a rabbit whose offspring she will raise and sell in the market

so that she can rent a room for herself and her two brothers; Leodomile has a banana selling business and has started

vocational school to become a welder; and 12 year old David is back in school and sells his rabbits when he needs money.

From far away, these four and all of the 437 children, we partner with thank God for you and your support. We know this

because they told us when we visited them. One girl said that the children who have phones set their alarms for 2 a.m. so they

can wake and pray for us. Now that is transformation! To donate, you can write a check to FUMC with ZOE in the memo line.

Page 2 Congregational Care/Missions

UMW Meetings

Esther- 3rd Tuesday (Sept-May)

10 AM Roy Johnson Room

Contact: Dottie Franz 696.9015

Grace- 3rd Wednesday (Aug-June)

7 PM Homes of Members/Various

Locations

Contact: Anne McClintic 775.1241

mcclintics@gmail.com

Lydia- 2nd Monday (Aug-June)

6::30 PM Room 117 (Gettman)

Contact:

Betty Kay Brookshire 674.3415

Karol Reed 890.0163

karolreed@gmail.com

Miriam- 3rd Wednesday (Aug-June)

7 PM Room 203 Library

Contact: Tish Blair 551.9281

tblair66@hotmail.com

Ruth- 3rd Monday (Aug-June)

10 AM Room 117 (Gettman)

Contact: Gloria Paul 693.3371

(If you have questions about a Circle

please contact the circle leader. Each

Circle is responsible for publicizing

meeting times/events as applicable.)

Missions Page 3

The Labyrinth

IAM…Did You Know? You PROBABLY know that Interfaith Assistance Ministry (IAM) helps those in our community that have a financial crisis by

providing assistance with food, clothing and blankets.

You MAY also know that IAM provides financial resources to help with electricity, water, fuel oil, propane gas, rent and prescrip-

tions to our neighbors experiencing a financial crisis.

BUT did you know that…

FUMC helped establish IAM 31 years ago with the donation of a home/office, financial support and a supply of willing vol-

unteers?

Approximately 10% of the 300 current IAM volunteers are FUMC members?

In 2014, IAM provided food for >174,000 meals, clothing for > 4700 persons, heating/utility assistance for 1177 families,

school supplies for >500 students, rent assistance for 205 families, and prescription medications for > 100 persons?

In addition to providing assistance to meet various personal financial crises, IAM also

-Provides written guidance and referrals to partner organizations (such as Pisgah Legal, Store House, Salvation Army,

Goodwill Career Connections, Mainstay, Hendersonville Housing Authority, Blue Ridge Community Health Services

and Job Link)?

-Provides up-to-date lists of available area jobs?

-Provides Smoking Cessation & Budgeting Classes?

IAM relies on funding from >60 Congregations, >150 Businesses, and various Grants?

HOW YOU CAN HELP…

Keep IAM and our neighbors who are in financial crisis in your prayers!

Volunteer (just 4 hours/week!)

Continue to provide financial support and clothing/food donations!

Contact Gary Lambert (575-6302), Ken Perkins (890-5338) or Conrad Wrobel (697-7029) if you would like additional infor-

mation.

Meet Sally, a Joseph’s Center Guest Sally lives on the streets and struggles each day. She often comes to the Center to go to the bathroom and occasionally to

shower. The first day she came in, she barely spoke, and it was almost a growl. You could tell she was on the offense and

didn’t trust anyone. Over time, she would open up a little. One day she came in with a can of chicken and a soup size Ramen

noodle. Sally asked if we’d warm them up in the microwave for her. Sometimes she’d talk a little and she usually came for the

fellowship dinner on Sunday. She was recently in the hospital and we missed her. When she returned, she mentioned she had

trouble seeing, so one of the volunteers brought in some reading glasses for her. When she stopped by, we gave them to her

and she was so excited that she could see and that someone cared about her. She told one volunteer, “I am so tired of being

beaten up.” We pray for Sally every day.

Is Cuba Calling You? A trip is being planned for a return trip to Cuba in mid-end of May 2016 to visit our new partner church La Luz del Mundo in

Los Tunas, Cuba.

We will fly into Holguin, drive to Los Tunas and then to the graduation at Matanzas Seminary, and to Havana to see what the

buzz is all about.

Are you being called to go to Cuba in the name of Christ? If so, please contact Carol Schobert (Cell 219-873-5206)

(schobert101@gmail.com) IMMEDIATELY if only to express your interest. Visas take over 90 days to receive so we will need

final answers by early February 2016.

We estimate the costs to be $1000-1500 for airfare, food, water, ground transportation and housing. Cuba is safe, lovely, un-

spoiled and full of Christians who want to be in relationship and partnership with other faithful Christians who are walking their

journey in faith by the light of Christ. Please say YES to this amazing mission opportunity.

Joseph’s Outreach Garage Sale

Coming August, 2016 We are working on securing a storage unit to collect items for the JOM Garage Sale coming in August 2016. So please

consider saving items to help this project. We will let you know about the unit as soon as it comes available. Thank you for

your support. Mike and Linda Williamson 828.388.5483

Page 4 Wonderful Wednesday Programs & Menus

January 6, 2016

Menu: Salad Bar, Pork Tenderloin, Asparagus, Baked Sweet Potato, Bread & Caramel Cake

Program: Rifkin, Fowler and Queen, MerleFest Performers are kicking off our Wonderful Wednesday evening of entertainment.

Carol Rifkin: Joyously sharing traditional

music, writing songs, exploring the history

behind mountain music, teaching dance or

engaging people to sing along; this award

winning multi-instrumentalist’s soaring sweet

voice is uniquely recognizable on stage or

radio (WNCW). With more than 1,000 stories

published in newspapers and magazines

(Asheville Citizen Times, Acoustic Guitar,

SingOut, more), this early member of the

former Green Grass Cloggers Professional

Road Team later worked solo with Tommy

Jarrell, Doc Watson, and many bands,

appeared in the movie “Songcatcher,” the

documentary “Down Home, Appalachia to

Nashville” with Jarrell and received

Asheville’s 2013 Bascom Lamar Lunsford

Award for “Significant Contribution to the Art

of Appalachian Culture.” www.carolrifkin.com

Fowler is an award winning storyteller, musician, ballad singer & author from the Foothills/Piedmont Upcountry of South Caroli-

na, produced documentaries for SC Public TV, is one of 17 storytellers in “Southern Appalachian Storytellers” and won South

Carolina’s highest honor in 2013, the Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage award. John recently performed on the Exchange Place

stage at the National Storytelling Festival; his Southern charm, skills on harmonica, fiddle and banjo combine with his historic

knowledge and great sense of humor for a fun, informative show.

Jeanette Queen: A member of the legendary Queen Family, Jeanette learned to play and sing in the Queen family band in Jack-

son County, NC. The daughter of the late 2007 National Heritage Award winner Mary Jane Queen and Claude Queen, Jeanette

grew up one of eight children in the mountain wilds, with music ever-present in the home. She carries forward seven genera-

tions of traditions learned from her mother and sings the songs of the mountains in her powerful clear voice.

January 13, 2016 Menu: Greek Salad, Meat Lasagna & Spinach Lasagna, Italian

Bread, Ice Cream & Cookies

Program: The 2016 Winter School of Christian Living will

KICK-OFF and all of the class facilitators will be present with

information about their classes. The 2016 Winter School of

Christian Living will offer ten new Bible Study opportunities, in

addition to the continuing Covenant and Disciple Bible Study

classes. Both Pastor Mark and Pastor Christy will be leading

new study groups. The 2016 Winter SCL Brochure will also

provide information about the 2016 Spiritual Formation Week-

end with Dr. Tom Long and introduce two new classes which

will be offered in the fall of 2016. Mark your calendars to

come out for the Wonderful Wednesday Dinner on January 13,

meet and greet the teachers, and choose your small group

study. The 2016 Winter SCL Brochures will be distributed

beginning January 3, 2016.

January 20, 2016

Menu: Salad Bar, Denny’s Parmesan Chicken, Broccoli, Rice &

Gravy, Bread & Lemon Pie

Program: An introduction to Islam: Past, Present & Future by

Paul Goebel. Part 1 with questions and answers at the end.

January 27, 2016 Menu: Salad Bar, Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Green Peas,

Bread & Mary Ruth’s Chocolate Pie

Program: An introduction to complementary and alternative

medicine being used at Four Seasons Compassion for Life,

including music therapy, massage therapy & pet therapy and

more.

Weekday School & Youth Page 5

First United Methodist Church Weekday School Did you know…

Our church has sponsored a Weekday School Ministry since 1949? For 66 years the Weekday School has welcomed

children and families in our community into the church with open arms and hearts.

We strive to provide:

· A safe place

· A learning place

· A holy place

At Christmas, our earnest prayer for our children is that we at First United Methodist Church will be an instrument of faith. We

pray to:

· Bring them to the Manger

· Introduce them to the Christ child

· Teach them about God’s love

This year 20 children and families are supported by our scholarship fund. We are entirely dependent on contributions for this

effort. Thank you for helping make our recent fundraiser, “Butter Braids,” a success. With your help, we raised over $500 for

the Weekday School Scholarship Fund.

If you would like to make a contribution to the Weekday School Scholarship Fund, please make your check payable to “FUMC

Weekday School” with “Scholarship Fund” on the memo line. Thank you!

Local Missions: Keeping our Homeless Warm During the month of January, our youth will be collecting warm coats

gloves/mittens, scarves, etc. for the homeless. We will accept anything new,

or used (but in good condition).

Sunday Night Youth: Sunday, January 3 -PARENTS MEETING begins at 5:15pm, please bring your CALENDARS!

(Slide show of Fall Quarter, upcoming event and retreat information,

Supper Schedule)

-GAME NIGHT

Join us for a night of food, crazy games and FUN from 6:00pm-8:00pm at church!

Middle School Ice Skating:

Saturday, January 30 from 1:45-5:30pm.

Students will be going to Taylors, SC to the Ice Skating Pavilion for $8 per person.

Sign up by Wednesday, January 27.

Coming Up in February:

High School Ski/Snowboard Trip: February 19-21 Our high school students will be returning to Banner Elk, NC to ski/snow board from February 20-22.

We will be renting a house for our group and will ski at Sugar Mountain. This is a great weekend to

get away, have fun, and build relationships within our youth group! It will also be a time for reflection

and deepening our relationship with Christ. Cost is: $115

Deposit of $50 (included in total) is due by Sunday, January 10.

Page 6

A “BIG” Outreach Thank You to all the Christmas Camp Children for the colorful and fun Christmas cards for the

Hot Dogs and Hugs Ministry and Christmas Eve at the Hendersonville Rescue Mission. The pictures and cards with

drawings, stickers and messages you made was a wonderful way to reach out in love to others in need in our community at

the Christmas season! By caring for those in need we are loving Jesus.

Fun Bible Study for Third Graders ~Learning to Use My Bible

Begins Sunday January 3! In the fall it is always such an honor to present Bibles to our children in the third grade! To encourage and help the children

in their learning of basic Bible skills with fun, hands-on activities, we are excited about offering an eight week study: Learn-

ing to Use My Bible! We hope this engaging study will spark the children’s enthusiasm and curiosity about the Bible and lay

the foundation for the special importance the Bible will have in in their lives – as a lifelong companion! Children will receive

their very own study book to keep. This study will take place during the Sunday School hour, beginning Sunday, January

3. We are very grateful to have Renee Casey, Lillian Lilly, Lauren Tilden and Anne Wankel, our third grade teaching team,

teaching this study!

Parents: Please remind your child to bring their Bible to Sunday School.

If any child is in need of a Bible, please contact Leslie Merrill, 693.4275 or email: leslie@hvlfumc.org

Childcare for Church Events (by registration only) We are happy to provide Childcare for Wonderful Wednesday Night Programs and families involved with the church spon-

sored event.

Wonderful Wednesday Programs:

Childcare is available for children Kindergarten age and younger; minimum of two children.

Requests must be made by noon on the Monday for the Wednesday night program.

To Register, please contact Tammy Heatherly

Caregivers will be available at 6 pm in Preschool Nursery Area

Church Sponsored Events

Childcare for church events held at the church only.

Children 5th grade and younger

Childcare requests for a qualifying event must be made by the Event coordinator no later than three weeks in advance

to the Childcare Coordinator.

Childcare cannot be offered for personal events (ex. Weddings, funerals).

To register or questions, please contact Tammy Heatherly, Childcare Coordinator 693-6774 or tammyhvlfumc.org

Sunday Morning Safety Reminders to Families Families thank your all your support as we strive to keep our children safe on Sunday morning. As we begin a new year we

would like to remind you of the following:

Please remain on the campus of the Church while your child participates in any of the Sunday morning ministries, in

case an emergency occurs.

For safety of the children, all children must be accompanied by an adult to and from the Children’s Area.

Sign In/Sign Out Form: Upon arrival and pick-up, children must be signed in and out each Sunday by an adult. (This is

in accordance with First UMC’S Safe Sanctuary Policy)

Sunday School Arrival: Sunday School begins at 9:45 am. Teachers will be available in their classrooms by 9:30 am.

If you arrive prior to the teacher, please remain with your child until a teacher is present.

Sunday School Dismissal: Sunday School ends at 10:45 am. All children need to be picked-up by an adult in their

Sunday School classroom. In courtesy to our Sunday School teachers, please be prompt in picking up your children.

If you have not completed a Child Information Form; forms are available in your child's classroom.

As an additional safety measure on Sunday mornings, we are securing the outside doors to the Children’s Area Portico

at 10:15 am. If you arrive after 10:15, please enter the church through the Welcome Area Portico. From the Welcome

Area, you can access the Children’s Area by the elevator or stairway near the Barber Christian Life Center.

Children’s Ministry News

Administrative Page 7

Need for Front Desk Volunteers Like meeting people? We have an opportunity for you to become acquainted with your fellow church members and members

of the community; and to see the inside workings of the church. Please consider working at FUMC’s reception desk. The volun-

teer would answer and transfer calls, “click” the door to open for visitors, and direct them to the many meetings or staff at the

church. Available shifts are 8:30-12:30 -or- 12:30-4:30 Monday – Thursday. Once a month would be helpful. We are especial-

ly in need on Wednesday afternoons 12:30 – 4:30. It would be convenient for you to then go directly to our Wednesday din-

ner/program at 5:00.We also need “substitutes” for any shift when people call in at the last minute. Any help you can give will

be appreciated. Contact: Deb 233-1877 or deb@hvlfumc.org

EASY Volunteer Opportunity! We are looking for greeters to volunteer one Sunday a month at the Barber Christian Life Center. All you need is a big smile

and 20 minutes of your time prior to one of the three services that morning. Please contact Ann Pyles at 693-1149 or leave a

message at that number.

Caregiver Support Group Meeting

Tuesday, January 19th, 2 pm - 3:30 pm A Caregiver Support Group meeting will be held to discuss topics related to dementia/Alzheimer’s disease.

At each session, we’ll be focusing on caregiver concerns, and what’s been going on through the month as caregivers continue

dealing with their loved ones who are suffering from dementia.

A care-receiver program is provided at the same time for loved ones in the Royal Allen room. For more

information, call Lisa Kauffman at 696-9799.

In Honor of David Rodgers

Royal and Robin Corbin

Backpack Fund

January 1, Friday—Church Closed

January 3, Sunday,

Epiphany Sunday and Communion

8:30am Traditional, Sanctuary

9:30am Praise, Barber CLC

11:005am Traditional, Sanctuary

January 4, Monday

Pre-School Opens

Endowment Know How, and How to Know It’s Different The Endowment Committee of First United Methodist Church has reconvened, and we want you to know all about it. It is our

goal to inform you that FUMC does

indeed have an Endowment and we want to educate you how it works. What is the Endowment? The FUMC Endowment was

established for the purpose of providing members, friends, and interested entities the opportunity to make charitable gifts in

support of FUMC. The gifts are invested and a portion of the income or capital gains may be used for a specific and approved

purpose. Gifts can also be “unrestricted”, and the income use may be appropriated by the Endowment

Committee for needs within the church. How is the Endowment different than our Stewardship campaign? Income from the

Endowment Fund is intended to expand resources for existing and prospective ministries, not to replace gifts and support pro-

vided by the Church’s annual operating budget. Stewardship gifts and pledges provide the revenue for the FUMC budget for

operating activities and programs, and these funds are managed by the Finance committee. Here is a practical

example: Mrs. Christian is a member of FUMC. She is widowed and has 2 adult

children. She pledges $1000 each year during the Stewardship campaign. She pays this pledge monthly as her tithe to FUMC.

Those funds once pledged as part of the annual campaign become part of the church’s operating revenue. Additionally, she

has named FUMC as the 20% beneficiary in her life insurance policy, along with her adult children, who will each receive 40%.

Upon her passing, FUMC will receive the designated gift, which would be added to the Endowment Fund. Look for more infor-

mation in the coming months about the FUMC Endowment Fund. For specific questions, please reach out to our committee,

chaired by

The Wordies Need You! Once a month The Word volunteers make it possible for us to continue the mail-ing of the church newsletter to your home. This wonderful group of volunteers would like to extend an invitation to join their group. If you are interested please contact Jean Pressley at

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID Hendersonville, NC

Permit No. 35

CAR-RT SORT the

WORD First United Methodist Church

Hendersonville

204 Sixth Avenue West

Hendersonville, NC 28739

(828)693-4275

www.fumchvlnc.org

Church Office Hours:

Monday-Thursday 8:30-5pm

Friday 8:30-1:30pm

Sunday Worship Schedule:

7:00 a.m. Chapel open for prayer

8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

(Sanctuary)

9:30 a.m. SONday Praise! Worship

(BCLC)

10:55 a.m. Traditional Worship

(Sanctuary)

9:45 a.m. Sunday School for all ages

9:00-10:45 a.m. Hospitality Coffee

11:00 a.m. Sunday School for all ages

CHURCH STAFF

MINISTRY STAFF

Mark Ralls, Senior Minister, 828.424.1058

Christy Sharp, Associate Pastor, x103

Annie Fritschner, Assistant Pastor, Ext. 106

Colleen Schnitzer, Director of Youth Ministries, x109

Leslie Merrill, Dir. of Christian Education

& Children’s Ministries, x105

Tammy Heatherly, Childcare Coordinator

Michael Brannon, Director of Music, x112

Julie Hora Williams, Director of Jubilee Handbells

Kelli Mullinix, Director of Praise Worship, X136

Deborah H. Kirkman, Dir. Of Weekday School x110

Aaron Mabry, Manager of Digital Communications,

828.564.6994

Justin Gardner, Sound Technician

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Ken Rhoads, Church Administrator, x131

Caroline Easley, Financial Officer, x130

Gloria Summey, Office Administrator, x100

Deb Harris, Outreach Coordinator, x101

Lou Reeves, Food Service Director, x114

Sherry Lindsey, Sexton, x108

Denny McWilliams, Sexton , x108

Richard Brown, Sextons, x108

Wayne Monroe, Security, x135

Care Line - 828.702.1454

February Word Article Submission

Deadline: 10:00 a.m.

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Memorials and Gifts of Honor

We would like to thank our class members and guests who attended the Alma Lee

Cheves Christmas Breakfast & Auction. Your participation and support made our

auction a wonderful success. The auction sales of $3850 were given to nineteen

agencies and organizations in our community. Some of these are: Bounty of

Bethlehem, Free Clinics, Storehouse, Rescue Mission, Homeless Teen Programs

(HELP), IAM, Vocational Solutions, Mainstay & Healing Place, and the Backpack

Program, Four Seasons Compassion for Life, FUMC/ Feed the Kids, Children and

Family Resource Center

We hope you enjoyed your morning as much as we did and we look forward to

seeing you next year.

Christmas Breakfast & Auction Committee