The Cokesbury Connection Pastor’s Page 2013

The Cokesbury
Connection
Cokesbury
2013
United Methodist Church
Pastor’s Page
Upcoming Events
& Activities
Sunday, March 24
Cross Ceremony
at 9:40 am
&
Palm Sunday Service
at 10:30 am
Thursday, March 28
Maundy Thursday Service
at 7:00 pm
Friday, March 29
Good Friday Service
at 7:00 pm
Saturday, March 30
Easter Egg Hunt in FLC
at 10:30 am
Sunday, March 31
Easter Worship Service
at 10:30 am
Isaac came home from church recently with a fish. Not a real fish, but one that he had
made in Sunday school. When I checked my phone after worship someone had sent me a picture. The picture had the kids in his class tossing a net over one of our youth. And so I asked
him about the lesson and what he had learned. “We caught Savannah today,” he said. He went
on to tell me the story of the disciples throwing out their nets and not catching anything. Jesus
then tells them to throw them out on the other side. And in Isaac’s interpretation, “They caught 89
fish!”
After talking about the story a little more he finally asked me, “Mom, why didn’t they just
use a fishing pole?” Isaac hadn’t ever seen fishing done any other way. It was strange to him to
think of fishing with a net. For him it was different and new, and if he hadn’t ever seen it done that
way then how in the world could it be more effective?
As I read another version of that story this week in my Lenten devotional reading I
started thinking about Jesus’ call to Peter to fish for people. Many of us know the stories. We
know that we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. We know that we are supposed
to bring people to a saving knowledge and relationship with Jesus Christ. We know that we are
supposed to love our neighbors.
And yet sometimes the techniques we are using don’t work as well as we want them to.
We keep throwing the pole into the water and waiting. We haven’t figured out how to use our
nets. Maybe we are using nets but we keep throwing them on the same side expecting different
results. It could even be that we aren’t fishing at the right time of day.
We are called to be fishers of
people just as Peter was. And Jesus
expects us to be effective fishermen.
That is not an easy thing to do at a time
when so many things are changing in
our world. It means that we might need
to do something we’ve never done before.
We may need to quit doing some things
that aren’t working. And other things may
need a little tweaking. Yet no matter what
we do, we need to be open to the nudging
of the Holy Spirit.
God, what can we do for you and
your kingdom? And how can we do it most
effectively? Come Holy Spirit and lead us
and Jesus led his disciples.
Peace,
March 2013
Sun
Mon
Sunday Morning Schedule
9:30 a.m. Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Combined Worship
Tue
Wed
Thu
No Wednesday Bible
Study during Lent
4
3
5 1:00 pm
Emmaus
Fri
Sat
1
2
6
7
8 Lay Servant
9 Lay Servant
9:00 am Petal Pushers
7:00 pm AA & Al Anon
5:30 pm Worship Comm. 6:00 pm Basketball
7:00 pm Bible Study
Mtg.
6:30 pm Choir
5:00 pm Camellia Gar Cl.
Ministries School
Ministries School
10 Lay Servant
113:30 pm Twin Oaks 12
7:00 pm AA & Al Anon
7:00 pm Bible Study
1:00 pm Emmaus
13 noon
Yah Yahs
6:00 pm Basketball
6:30 pm Choir
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24 .Palm Sunday 25
26
27
28
29
30
Ministries School
7:00 pm AA & Al Anon
7:00 pm Bible Study
1:00 pm Emmaus
7:00 pm UMW
7:00 pm AA & Al Anon 1:00 pm Emmaus
7:00 pm Bible Study
6:00 pm Basketball
6:30 pm Choir
10:00 am Folders
6:00 pm Basketball
6:30 pm Choir
7:00 pm Maundy
Thursday Service
7:00 pm Good
Friday Service
9:00 am Food Pantry
Easter Egg Hunt
10:30 am
31 EASTER
He is Risen!
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES FOR THIS MONTH
MARCH BIRTHDAYS
2 Marian Gentry
4 Harold Gaddy
4 Jonathan Keller
6 Karen VanMaanen
7 Suzanne Flowers
7 Patty Wall
8 Wendy Grady
9 Kathy Hoge
9 Janice Taylor
9 Denise Borrelli
11 Richard Hilbourn
11 Robert “Sonny” Kaufman
12 Dylan Harley
12 Kristen Looney
13 Nellie Weaver
14 Ryan Broyles
15 Bailey Holbrook
15 Dorris Myers
16 Craig Norris
16
17
20
20
21
22
24
24
26
26
26
26
27
27
29
29
30
30
31
Neal Norris
Emmy Fulmer
Michael Broyles
A. Robert Nix
Juliette Jackson
Kandice Bunch
Pat Ham
Allen Keller
Perry Gentry
David Moore
Brandy Wall
David Wiley
Elizabeth Hamrick
Herbert Herrmann
Robin Livingston
Connie Minter
Ashley Taylor
Joey Trainor
Holland Keller
MARCH
ANNIVERSARIES
1 John & Betty Carter
17 David & Toni Moore
24 Bruce & Dawn Bilsback
27 Michael & Melissa Cook
If your birthday or your
anniversary is not listed or is
incorrect please let the church
office know so we can make
the proper corrections.
Daylight Saving Time
begins Sunday,
March 10.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MARCH
With Deepest Sympathy
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN NEWS
Cokesbury extends our deepest sympathy to the
family and friends of A. E. “Bill” Tyner at his passing.
The UMW will hold their monthly meeting on Tuesday, March
19, at 7:00 pm. This month’s meeting will feature the District
Chairman of the UMW Reading and Resource Program, Debbie
Russell,
On Easter Sunday, our sanctuary will be
beautified with “live” lilies sponsored by the
UMW. The cost of each lily is $10.00. If
you wish to purchase a lily in honor of or
in memory of a loved one, give the form
and payment to any UMW lady by the
Monday before Easter. Please make
your check payable to the UMW and not
the church. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.
TWIN OAKS SING-A-LONG
Every second Monday of the month, at 3:30 pm, a group of
our Cokesbury members gathers at Twin Oaks Retirement Home
to lead a Sing-a-Long for the Twin Oaks residents. This monthly
outreach ministry would be delighted to add new voices to their
group. No prior experience required. Call Mac Ham for more
details.
FOOD PANTRY
Our monthly Food Pantry is held every third Saturday of the
month at 9:00 am. If you are aware of anyone in the 29405 or
20418 zipcode who needs food assistance please tell them about
our monthly Food Pantry.
Every fourth Sunday of each month Romayne Eaddy, our hat
lady, will collect a special offering after worship service to replenish our monthly food pantry. Please remember those in need. In
February we collected over $500.00 to help feed the needy.
Our Church Library
Come and enjoy your Cokesbury Library on Sunday
mornings or during regular church office hours
(Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m.– 3:30
p.m.). The library is located in the Education Building across from the Women’s Restroom and next to
the Pastor’s office. The library has a wonderful
variety of Christian books and DVDs for your entire
family, including sections devoted to Children, Youth, Fiction, Christian
Living, Christian Growth, Reference, etc.
There are several overdue books that need to be returned to the library so that
others may enjoy them. Please check your shelves to see if you have any of our
library books and RETURN or RENEW.
Cokesbury is now saving the tabs from soft drink
cans for the Ronald McDonald House. You may
leave them in the Missions Room in the
back of the Education Building.
YAH YAHS LUNCHEON
Come out to Lunch with the
Yah Yahs on Wednesday, March
13, at noon, in the Fellowship
Hall.
Bring a covered dish to
share and enjoy the great fellowship as well as the great food.
Cokesbury extends our deepest sympathy to Harold Goodyear and family at the passing of his brother,
Ralph Goodyear.
Cokesbury extends our deepest sympathy to Joan
Adler, her sons and their families at the passing of her
husband, Sidney Adler.
Thank You to the Cokesbury Family
A thank you from the family of A. E. “Bill” Tyner to his
Cokesbury family for all the love shown him both before
and after his death. Also a special thanks to Pastor Megan
and to the ladies who prepared and served a meal to the
family after his funeral. We appreciated everything so
much.
Harold and Anna Goodyear wish to thank all those who
expressed their love and concern at the recent passing of
Harold’s brother, Ralph N. Goodyear.
EMMAUS MONTHLY GATHERING
This month’s Emmaus Gathering will be held here at
Indian Fields UMC, at St. George, at 7:30 pm.
Our Emmaus Reunion Group, the Shepherd’s Crook,
meets at the church each Tuesday at 1:00 pm
WE STILL NEED SOAP!
Thanks to all of you who have given soap to
his on going ministry. Each month Cokesbury
UMC furnishes 50 to 60 bars of soap to the
community supported Shalom Ministries. You
may also chose to give money toward the soap ministry. For more
information on this important outreach ask Marian Gentry.
Notes from the Music Ministries.
Our Children have an opportunity to attend Music and Worship Arts
Camp at Lake Junaluska this summer. The children’s fee for the
week will be $139.00 and we will need a check made out to Cokesbury UMC and marked for “Music Camp”. Deadline for registration
will be March 12. We will leave for the camp on Sunday, June 23.
We need also need adult chaperones to go with us to the camp. If
you are interested in registering your child or in being a chaperone
please contact Eszter with your questions at (843)513-6443 or at
[email protected], or call the church office. Thank you.
Cokesbury now has a beautiful new
roof and repaired gables on our
Education Building thanks to all of
you who have donated funds to help
pay for this much needed repair.
Some of the funding for the roof
came from our grounds and maintenance budget so we still need funds
to help finish paying for the new
roof. Please continue to give to this
fund.
The Children’s Department needs cereal boxes!
Now through April 2013 we will be collecting cereal boxes for
our June 2013 VBS. These boxes will be painted and used to
make a huge “stone” wall. You can open the ends and flatten
them out to make storage easier. Drop them off in the old sanctuary or the mission room located across from the game room at
the end of the education hallway. Thank you for your help!
From Pam Coleman for Children’s Ministries:
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Our Vacation Bible School dates have changed! Kingdom Rock VBS will be June 16-21st. Don’t miss it!
Our Winter Pool Party will be held at the new Danny Jones Aquatic Center off of Montague Avenue. They are finishing up construction and we are
one of the first groups on the reservation list! No final date yet, but it will be after church one Sunday in April. Watch your newsletter, bulletin and
e-mail for final information.
When Jesus taught, he used everyday objects like coins, fish, and plants to help people remember God’s truth.
Just like Jesus, we will use everyday items—gizmos—to help kids learn the Bible. And they never forget it.
Since children experience what they’re learning, it sticks with them for a lifetime.
We are starting this exciting new Children’s Sunday school curriculum in March!
All children ages 3-5th grade are invited to join us at 9:30 each Sunday morning.
MARCH MONTHLY MISSION: BACK PACK BUDDIES
Packing up help for hungry children
Backpack buddies attacks the issue of weekend hunger for Lowcountry children. On Friday afternoon, at
risk children are sent home with a backpack filled with nutritious snacks. For some of these children, school
lunches may be their only meal of the day.
How can you help?
By donating non-perishables that require no cooking or special tools such as:
Single serving fruit cups and applesauce
Single serving packages of crackers, chips, pretzels and cookies
Microwavable meals and soups such as Spaghetti O’s, Ramen Noodles, Mac-n-cheese
Individual cereal packs, oatmeal and instant grits
Juice boxes
Soups with pull tab tops
Granola bars, raisins and trail mix
Shelf Stable milk (white or chocolate)
Canned chicken or tuna
Registration is due by April 1.
TRIVETS, TRIVETS, TRIVETS!
Youth who are 14 years old by the starting date of their chosen camp or those 18
and above (All those 18 and above must have a background check. Most of our
adult members who have attended Salkehatchie before have a background check
on record.)
The Santee Camp that Rev. Joe Long serves as the director of will be held from July
13 - July 20 this year. His camp fills up quickly so be sure you have your application
in early.
Romayne Eaddy still has some trivets left!
While she has given her handmade trivets to
most of the families at church she still has a
few trivets in various colors left. Her goal is
to give every family at Cokesbury a trivet for
their home. If you haven’t picked out your
trivet yet please call Romayne at 851-3473.
Save the Date for the 2013 Ladies
Retreat at Seabrook Island!
July 26-28
Registration information coming
soon!
HOME BOUND COMMUNION
Home Bound Ministries would be pleased to serve communion to
anyone who is homebound. If you are home bound (or know someone who
is) and would like to receive communion from Cokesbury please contact
Sue Shipman at 552-7239.
The next Kairos Prison Ministry
Weekend at Lieber Correctional
Institute will be held March 14-17,
and David Wiley will be part of it.
As always Kairos will need our help in
baking homemade cookies for the inmates
and guards at the facility. Cookies may be
brought to our worship service on Sunday,
March 10 or to the church office by that
Wednesday, March 13.
To our congregation:
Once again the youth group had a great time on our
annual ski trip. We had a beautiful house, lots of
snow and lots of camaraderie. These young adults
are so awesome. They exhibit great character and
they do walk in great faith. They all gel from ages 1217. We had two new youth this year who had never
skied; some of our “veterans” stepped up and really
hung with them. It is a blessing to be their youth
leaders!!!
We would like to thank Ken Stovall for his ever faithful job as a chaperone and resident cook. Y’all miss
out on the best French toast ever!! Thanks to Ronnie
Sayer and Chad Graham for being chaperones also.
We are grateful that we get this time with them. We
always have a blast and are really sad when it is all
over. We always look forward to next year. We look
forward to all our time with them!
Thanks to those in our church who constantly step up
and support us. It really matters a bunch. As a church
you all should be really proud they are the best! Once
again we really appreciate it!
Miriam and Leigh Ann and your Cokesbury youth!!
SKI TRIP GROUP
2013
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. Postage PAID
CHARLESTON, SC
PERMIT#459
4990 Dorchester Road
North Charleston, South Carolina 29418
Phone: 843-552-4061
Fax: 843-552-4063
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.cokesburyumc.com
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
STAY CONNECTED WITH COKESBURY!
If you would like to receive periodic emails containing
prayer requests and general information of events at
Cokesbury, ask to be added to the church email group.
Send an email to [email protected]
or call the church office at 552-4061.
If you are not on our mailing list to receive our
monthly newsletters please call the office to receive
a copy each month. The monthly newsletter is also
posted on our website www.cokesbury.com
Also, if you are not on our birthday or anniversary list
please call the church office so you can be added to our
lists.
COKESBURY ANNUAL
EASTER EGG HUNT
(For ages 3 through 5th grade)
Our annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday,
March 20 at 10:30 am, in the Family Life Center.
If you would like to donate some candy for our Easter Egg
Hunt, it can be dropped off in our mission box
in the sanctuary by March 24. We can use
any type of individually wrapped
candy that will fit in an Easter Egg.
No hard candy please. Thank you !!!
Cokesbury Staff
Megan Gray, Pastor
[email protected]
Eszter Ablonczy, Music Director
[email protected]
Pam Coleman, Children’s Ministry Dir.
[email protected]
Miriam Graham, Youth Director
[email protected]
Leigh Ann Sayer, Youth Director
[email protected]
Lyn Bridges, Secretary
[email protected]
Tommy Myers, Sexton