Camp Ground United Methodist Church

4625 Camp Ground Road

Fayetteville, NC 28314

Address Service Requested

FROM OUR PASTOR,

We gather to worship because we have been invited. A special invitation was

sent out 2000 years ago. Since that time people of all races and nations have

responded to this call. As years have past, many have joined that great

“company of witnesses” gathered in heaven. The numbers increase day by

day. Those of us who live and remain gather out of love, for the One who in-

vited us. We gather to sing, to pray, to offer up gifts, to hear His word, and to

gather around the table, as those first disciples, to break the bread and drink

the wine to remember all He has done.

There are many reasons people gather. There are those who are simply

curious. Some who are convinced, and still others who are committed. Those

who are curious live on the fringe. They may seem to be in the middle of things,

but only because for awhile it is safe, or

popular, where everyone else is hang-

ing out. But they have no clue as to

what is taking place or why so many seem different. Looking from the sidelines, even though in the

middle, seems the safe place.

Much of his life had been lived on the fringe, where it was safe. From appearances he was reli-

gious. Just enough to make him miserable. He was in the middle of things, yet far from what was

really real, until that night he moved a step closer. You might say his curiosity got the best of him. As

he met with the Rabbi from Nazareth, the words came out of his mouth before he could stop them.

“We know that you are a teacher sent from God, for no one could do the things you are doing unless

God was with him.” He was moving closer. It seemed as though you could hear a sense of being con-

vinced. “We know,” were the words he used. He had heard something. Seen

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

OCTOBER 2012

ARBOR VINE

(CONTINUED)

Rev. Haywood Smith

Sunday, October 21

7 p.m.

Camp Ground Sanctuary

Featuring……. Clay Whittington

Camp Ground Church invites you and

your friends to our first concert in mem-

ory of our beloved Joe Newman, a dedi-

cated servant of God and creator of The

King’s Men singing group.

CAMPkids Grounded in the Word of God!

Come to CAMP every Sunday evening and

join our exciting CAMPkids children’s ministry! Din-

ner will be provided each week followed by fun, Bi-

ble based lessons, music, and activities.

Christ Where: Camp Ground SS classrooms

Accepts When: Sundays

Me What Time: 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. followed

by Christmas Play practice.

Praise Him! Who: All kids from 3 yr olds through

6th grade.

A Day Away...at Raven Rock

Genesis 1 tells us that God looked at his

Creation and “Saw that it was good.” All ladies of

the church are invited to spend a day away at Raven

Rock Park on Saturday, October 20 to glory in

God’s creation, to worship Him as our Creator, and

to enjoy the world He made just for us!

If you’d like to attend, please fill out the slip

below so we have a rough idea of who’s attending.

Then plan to meet at the church at 8:45 a.m. on October 20 to carpool to Raven

Rock. Be sure to bring you Bible, a blanket or camp chair, and a sack lunch for

yourself and drinks. Please note that this is an adults-only adventure, though

mothers with nursing infants are welcome to join us with their babies.

At Raven Rock we’ll begin with a short time of worship and reflection

on Genesis 1. Then we’ll split up so you can enjoy the trails and scenery of Ra-

ven Rock Park as you like! We’ll come back together for lunch, fellowship, and

sharing about the morning. We plan to be back in Fayetteville by 2:30 p.m. In

case of rain, we will do an alternate program in the Fellowship Hall.

Questions? Call Jenny in the church office!

Attention parents of College Students!!

We would like to collect the mailing

addresses of all of our Camp Ground

college students! We would like to

send cards of encouragement to all of

the students, whether they are living away at school or

staying at home and attending school locally.

We would also like to mail care packages to the

students during finals. If you think your student would

enjoy being a part of this ministry, please fill out the

form in your bulletin this Sunday. If you have any ques-

tions or concerns, please contact...

Lynda Strock at 867-3132 or at darlyn@nc.rr.com

CAMPkids

...has a place for every child and all it

takes is bring the kids ONE time and

they will be hooked. Spread the word to

all of your friends and neighbors...all

young people

deserve the

opportunity to

grow up in a

safe and lov-

ing environ-

ment!!

BREAK-

FAST

KITCHEN Camp Ground will be serving breakfast at the IN-ASMUCH Breakfast Kitchen on November 9th. We will need about 10 to 12 people to help serve. If you would like to give a few hours of your morning to serve we will be meeting at the INASMUCH facility at 531 Hillsboro Street at 7:15 a.m. Please call Bill & Sandy Holland for more in-

formation at 867-3284.

531 Hillsboro Street

Suzanna Grace Allen Katie Bedsole

Jo-ann Bennett Kai Bey

Pamela Rhew Bigham Mark Blanton Tom Brown

Johnny Bunch Rev. O.J. Burns Danny Davis Lloyd Davis Anis Dixon

Danny Dixon Joyce Douglass Debbie Edwards

Family of Joe Getz Ben Green Rhudy Guy

Hepler Family

Family of Lisa Henning Amanda Herndon Dennis Honeycutt

Michelle Hovis Hutto Family Kelso Family

Family of David Kendrick Rev. Teresa Lawrence

Chuck Liebers Family of Virginia Love

Madaline John McCarthy

Patrick McCarthy Mrs. Willie McLaney

Ashley Miller Martha Miller

Howard Murchison Marita Newman Fred Norman

Rest Home and Shut-Ins

Jan Baker, Wanda Barry, Ruth Blackburn, Doris Brown, Mary O. Mason, Doris Parsons, John Patterson, Elise Phillips, T.C. Pritchett, Joe Raynor,

George Scheel, Mary Scheel, Jim Sloan.

THE BOOK

OF JAMES A Study of the Book of James will began on Wednesday morning September 19 at 10:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall and on Thursday night, September 20, in Owen Chapel at 7:00 p.m. The study on Thursday will be in the context our "Sunday Morning on Thursday Night" service. This will be a 15 week study. The cost will be $10.00 to cover the cost of the workbook. Bring your Bible and an open heart. Bring a friend. Spread the Word! The class is ongoing but if you are interested please show up and your participation is welcome. James 1:2-4..."Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Abigail Raynor Frank Raynor Aileen Reese

Cle Reese Alexandria Rinkel

Tomasa Rodriguez Lisa Roller

Grandson of Michelle Bonnie Smith Sybil Taylor

Jimmie Townsley Robert Tucker

Kenneth Tucker Cindy Wade

Bill Ward Ted Ward

Alek Watson Bill Whitehead

Jimmy Whitehead

Play Practice *** Play Practice

“The Secret of Snowflake County”

Children’s Christmas Musical

Every Sunday after

CampKIDS

Ages K - 6 grade

HOMECOMING Sunday, October 14, 10am-Noon

Worship Service Noon-Until...Old Fashioned picnic

on the church grounds

What is Walk to Emmaus?

The walk to Emmaus is a spiritual renewal program in-

tended to strengthen the local church through the develop-

ment of Christian disciples and leaders. The Emmaus experi-

ence begins with a 72-hour short course on Christianity, com-

prised of 15 talks by lay and clergy on themes of God’s

grace, disciplines of Christian discipleship and what it means

to be the church. The walk begins on a Thursday and con-

cludes on that Sunday evening, and is held at Camp Dixie off

Hwy 87 South. Men and women attend separate weekends.

Are you ready to gain a fresh understanding of God’s

grace; to form friendships that foster faith; to learn to walk in

the spirit of

Jesus? Pray about it!

Walk Dates

Men’s Walk…………..October 18-21, 2012

Women’s Walk…...…..October 25-28, 2012

Please talk to Pastor Haywood or contact the church office

@ 867-9436 if you would like more information.

You’re invited to The Emmaus Gathering

Asked yourself what is Emmaus?

What is an Emmaus Gathering?

Then come to the Emmaus Gathering Friday night and join those

who have attended The Walk to Emmaus, sharing in fellowship,

singing praise and worship songs, hearing a 4th day talk (one

who has been on the Walk shares Christ’s presence in their

lives), and receiving communion.

When? Friday, October 12th

Where? Owen Chapel

What time? 7:00 pm

Willing Worker’s Auction was another huge success with a good time had by all...and they even made some money in the process.

...is off to a great start with over 25 kids showing up for the GRAND OPENING. Bouncy houses were the hit of the evening.

Reign Dancers...presented another great

performance for both worship services on

September 16, 2012. Talia has now started

college so the dancers will be taking some

time off while she gets use to the new sched-

ule. Everyone appreciates all of the time and

talent that she donated to these fine young

ladies. Talia promises she will be back.

something that had moved him closer. Then the teacher said something that caught him off guard.

“You must be born again, from above.” Born again. Not possible. A man my age. My size. Go back into my mom’s womb. But that is not

what the teacher meant. Still he could only hear the words and not the Word. Born from above. Something needed to be changed on the

inside. Something inside.

Perhaps he is a little bit confused even though a bit convinced and not just curious. He will watch from a distance. He will make a com-

ment later about being careful what we do about this teacher. We might be resisting God. Then everything goes crazy. The teacher, who

had been so popular, so much a household word, had been arrested. There was a trail. Witnesses brought in who had been paid off.

He was beaten. Beaten beyond recognition. And for what? Healing a leper. Opening the eyes of a blind man. Oh, and raising Lazarus

from the dead. Now that was a sight to behold. Lazarus could hardly stop talking about all he had seen and heard. That got Martha out of

the kitchen for sure. And Mary, she is still, you might say, star struck. Lazarus had been fairly quiet before, but now he had more to say than

he knew how to say.

This was the turning point. Lazarus. No one could deny it. Even some of the Pharisees could no longer remain on the sidelines. They

believed. Maybe that’s what convinced him to commit his life, regardless of the circumstances or the consequences.

You see when Jesus was crucified, Mary was there, John the disciple Jesus loved, John liked to say. Joseph was there contributing the burial place. And he was there. Nicodemus. He could no longer live on the fringe. Safe was no longer possible. Commitment would be the word. The word we so often try to avoid. But that day everyone would see. He would do something that would bring him the criticism of his peers, but more importantly, it would bring him one step closer to Jesus. Taking Jesus’ body down from the cross would mark him forever. He is one of them. And with that he would live the remainder of his days as one who would count it a privilege to be known by the Carpenter. For you see, the Carpenter had not rushed into choosing this piece of wood. He has chosen it and prepared it and now would use it for His glory. Nicodemus would be there in that upper room waiting for what his heart had so longed for. Bringing him closer to Jesus. Knowing His love shed abroad in his heart. His spirit within him. With that he could no more deny Jesus than deny the existence of air, the mountains, the rivers, the temple. Now Jesus was everything to him. I can imagine Nicodemus and Lazarus laughing together as they shared stories and moments of the time with Jesus and now all that was taking place in each of them. It can be the same with us. Is it the same with you? Jesus is more than a curiosity. More than someone you are convinced lived and died, and possibly rose from the dead. A mystery. But now, now, you have taken a step that marks you. A step that some will hold against you. A step that causes you to say, “Jesus Christ is Lord.” An affirmation that for the early church meant total surrender. But also, total recognition, that they were followers of Jesus come what may. For many that meant death. But for all of them, who believed, it meant eternal life. I am glad, and hopefully you are too, to be counted among His followers. The road we are on is not an easy one. Some will start but turn back when the thrill, the goose bumps are gone. The world is just too enticing. The devil himself will appear as an angel of light and cause many to turn from the Lord. After all, who is this man from Nazareth to call himself the Son of God? It has been a sad thing through the years to see those who were once so excited about this journey of faith, turn back to the world, fall back where it is safe, live on the fringe. Jesus did say that “many would fall away”. What is even more difficult is how much we’ve been blessed, yet we still too often major on the minors, and miss the most important. If what we do fails to bring honor to the Lord, all the singing, giving, and service will mean nothing. Many deny Him, His Word, and His call to be holy as He is holy. But today, in this moment, let us hear Him just as clearly as when we first began, saying to us, “Follow Me.” Now, we have come to know that worshipping Him is not limited to a place but only by our hearts response to Him. We also know the need to gather with others, who with one heart, worship Him, sing His praises, pray with and for each other. Why? We accepted an invitation that was given long ago. How could we stay away? How can we stay away? We gather not because we are worthy, but because He is. We offer brokenness and pain; He gives healing and forgiveness. Let me pose a question. If you received an invitation from a famous golfer, a well known actor, the governor, or even the president, would you turn it down? Would you change your schedule and make sure you took advantage of that invitation? Many take the invitation for granted and toss it aside. Others look at it and receive it each day, each Lord’s Day, just like it was the first. The Creator of heaven and earth, the Lord our God, the Savior of the World, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection and the Life, has in-vited you, each of us, to gather with others of His each week to worship, receive instructions for living, and to leave with the power to be His disciples. If you love Him, you will come. If not, perhaps one day soon, you will.

“Let us enter into His presence with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.” I was glad when they said, “Let us go into the house of

the Lord.” Continue faithful to the Lord. He is always faithful.

Haywood

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