FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, MOCKSVILLE

N E W S F R O M

I assume most of you saw the email in early January announcing that I plan to retire at the end of June this year. I think it will afford Susan and me more time to travel and spend with our grandchildren during their childhood and teen years while we still have good health. We are excited about those possibilities and sad to leave such a wonderful church and community. Steve Harper said in his book, Stepping Aside, Moving Ahead, “My dad described his aging process this way: ‘It took me fifty years to be fifty, but it only took me fifteen minutes to be eighty.’” Although, the time passes the same, when it comes to our own aging, it seems faster. Approximately, ten thousand people on average retire each day in the United States. My dad loved to do plumbing work. He started as a young man. It was very demanding work physically. When our younger son gradu-ated from NCSU in 2008, jobs were hard to come by. He had been working with my dad during summer breaks so he continued and, in a few years, dad turned the business over to Robert. Dad was able to keep working into his early eighties with Robert, but Robert did the hard work. We jokingly said, “Dad was the consultant.” (He was a great trouble-shooter.) It is a popular topic of conversation, “When are you going to retire?” For some it is, “I can’t wait. I have my countdown app telling me the months, days and minutes.” Some hate their work or just tolerate it. Others are much more fortunate. They love their work and find it enjoyable even though every job is challenging. I fall into the latter category. I know the church is in good hands because she is in the hands of the Lord. Since 1833 First Methodist has been receiving newly ap-pointed pastors as they bade farewell to departing pastors. As George Auman, a former pastor, once told me, “When you move, you get to make new friends and keep the old friends.” I am savoring each of my remaining days as we endure together the Covid-19 pandemic. It will be conquered. God reigns and Jesus Christ is Lord! It is a joy to serve the Lord with you. May the Lord bless you and keep you, Pastor Glenn ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ From Allison Gupton Greetings! It has been a while since we’ve shared anything but I hope this update finds you well. We have an exciting update as our preschool ministry reopened on January 11th. We welcomed 34 kiddos and 6 staff back with smiles under our masks! We are taking all precautions so that we can keep pushing through and pouring into these little ones. They were so happy to be back to school! We are excited about a special project we are going to be a part of with Mrs. Lou and Mr. Tommy and the music ministry in February ! We cov-et your continued prayers and support as we forage these new waters and try to be as diligent as possible to remain safe and healthy! We hope you all have a happy Valentine’s and remember that we love you and most of all Jesus loves you! Allison Gupton

Thank you for your generous financial support. Your ongoing gifts are vital to the ministries of FUMC! Please contin-ue to mail your offerings to the church or drop them off in the mailbox beside the front doors of the Family Life Cen-ter. The mailbox is locked, and it is checked regularly.

Ann Stayer

PO Box 333

256 North Carolina Circle

Mocksville NC 27028

D.C. Blakley

313 Aubrey Merrell Rd.

Mocksville NC 27028

Mary Brock 1276 Jericho Church Rd. Mocksville NC 27028 Molly Jo McClamrock Bermuda Commons Room # 403 316 NC Hwy 801 Advance NC 27006

Mary Lou Musselman 113 Cedar Ridge Rd. Mocksville NC 27028 Louise Bowden c/o Mocksville Senior Living 337 Hospital Street Rm 202 Mocksville NC 2028 Peggy Branham 148 Cemetery St. Mocksville NC 27028 Hal & Peggy Clark PO Box 1682 Clemmons NC 27012

Madeline Shelton 153 Woodhaven Drive Mocksville NC 27028 Elmer Stoneman 425 Avon Street Mocksville NC 27028 Sylvia Kennedy 150 Ken Dwiggins Dr Room 215 Mocksville NC 27028 Ron Cotterman 150 Ken Dwiggins Dr Room 216 Mocksville NC 27028

Jean Shelton Bermuda Commons Room # 508 316 NC Hwy 801 Advance NC 27006 Peggy Hill 100 Sunset Circle #201 Greensboro NC 27408 Wanda Bryant 150 Ken Dwiggins Dr Room 219 Mocksville NC 27028 ARMED FORCES FN Collin Russell

Please let us know of any additional names to be added or any names which should be removed. We like for our Pray-er List to be current and correct. To con-tact the Prayer Chain with a prayer re-quest or to become a part of the Prayer Chain, please contact: Lillian Sharpe 336.936.9014 bs2005@aol.com Kristen Paterson 336.624.0501 klk5279@gmail.com

FINANCIAL REPORT Dec ‘20 Jan-Dec‘20 Tithes/Offerings $ 70,381 $551,046 Memorials 280 8,677 W/S Foundation 2,634 10,536 Other Income 3,971 12,712 Total Income 77,266 582,971 Expenses -56,974 - 607,327 Total 20,292 - 24,356 ADA Restroom - 83,669 Net Income 20,292 - 108,024

Feb. 01 Evan Hendrix Feb. 03 Bob Bromley Feb. 05 David Hatley Feb. 07 Jim Latham Feb 08 Elise Greco Feb. 09 Charlotte Anderson Chinera Latham Sara Seaford Feb.10 Carl Lambert Feb. 11 Terri Butcher Johnny Miller Feb. 12 Dorothy Corriher Feb. 14 Joe Butzbach Kathy Curry

Feb. 16 Jean Evans Feb. 17 Mary Hendricks Feb. 20 Emily Woods Feb. 21 Meg Brewer Ellie Prillaman Feb. 22 Vicki Balsley Corbin Dirks Beth Edwards Dessie Vogler Feb. 24 Vickie Bernhardt Tommy Dunn Feb. 25 Sandy Sheek Tiffany Evans Feb. 28 Don Routh

Prayers and Squares are taking request for prayer quilts. Please call Cathy McClamrock (336-909-4150) email : cmccla1439@aol.com, or Carolyn Cartner (336-909-0053) email: cjcar0486@ yadtel.net with your requests. FLC basement update There is a mold issue involving moisture coming from outdoors into the

basement of the Family Life Center. At this time, it is a hazardous space, so please do not go into

basement until it is safe to do so.

Bettie Poteat is moving to SalemTowne in Winston Salem. We wish her blessings in her new venture! Her new address is: 104 Hagen Court Apt 463 Winston Salem, NC 27106 Cell# 336-831-3822

mailto:bs2005@aol.com

IN MEMORY Marjorie Cozart

By Charles & Lorene Markland

Jerry Brothers By Don & Sarah Wood

IN HONOR Dave & Diane Salmon

By John & Kristen Paterson

Dr. Joel Edwards M.J. Westrich

By Dean & Paula Allen

Grady & Cathy McClamrock By Nan Neal

FROM REV. NATALIE GRAY Confirmation Classes have begun each Tuesday through March 9 at 4PM-5PM in the FLC. Please pray for these young people through their Confirmation journey. 2021 Confirmands: Brantlee Evans & Ellie Prillaman Children's Chapel- If anyone would like to do a 5-7 minute children's message for our Thursday's chapel time, please let Natalie know. You can pre-record your message at home and email to Tom-my OR come to the church sanctuary on your designated Thursday at 4PM to go Facebook Live with your message. IMPACT Youth continues to meet Sunday's 4PM-5:30PM. IMPACT Youth started a study on the Bi-ble-How it is organized, authors of the different books, order of the books of the Bible. They will be continuing this through the season of Lent. The youth Lenten project "Operation Cast Me Not 2.0" will begin as our youth members will begin calling our senior adults on Sunday evenings to check on them, see if they need anything or take prayer requests. The youth will be calling and checking on our senior adults throughout the Lenten season. YOUTH TAKEOVER- Each youth is scheduled to lead youth group the next three weeks. Please be in prayer for each youth as they prepare a lesson and service project for us to partake each Sunday afternoon. Reading the Gospel of Mark Challenge-Hope you have been reading along with the youth group in Mark. We started January 18-February 8 by reading one chapter in Mark each weekday. We will begin reading the Gospel of Luke Feb. 22-March 25. Join us in these daily readings as we dive into God's Word during this Lenten season. Lillian Sharpe will lead the study, "A Way Through the Wilderness" Lenten Study by Rob Renfroe will begin each Tuesday February 23-March 30. We already have our maximum number for in-person that have pre-registered, but are offering it virtually through Google Meets, or a telephone number where you can call in and listen and discuss. You do not have to have a google account-just Internet or download the app on your phone or device. Please contact Lillian Sharpe if you are interested in this study, and let her know if you would like to be a part of this Bible study, 336-936-9014. Books will be available outside the FLC by February 16. Below is a brief description of the study: At one time or another, everyone has a wilderness experience, a time when life is barren and diffi-cult and we feel alone and desperate, not knowing where to turn. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a financial or health crisis, divorce, or some other painful experience, we see no end in sight and wonder how we can make it through another day. In the Scriptures we see that often God’s people went through a wilderness experience, and these experiences changed them in profound ways. The truth is that it’s impossible to go through the wilderness without being changed. There’s a way through the wilderness that can leave us broken and bitter and far away from God. But there’s another way through—God’s way—that leaves us with a deeper faith and draws us closer to God than we ever imagined. With sensitivity and warmth, Rob Renfroe explores the wilderness experience—what it is, how we get there, why God allows it, and how we can get through it God’s way so that we learn the lessons that can be learned only in the desolate seasons of life when we are totally dependent on God. Rev. Natalie Gray _________________________________________________________________________________

A few weeks ago, I shared a beautiful quote with the Chancel Choir in my weekly email to them. This week, I decided that it was important and timely, so I would like to share it with you all. It comes from David Bone, Executive Director of the United Methodist Fel-lowship. He was inspired to remember who he was and who holds him close.

"All you can do, all anyone can do ... is love ... listen ... and wait. Ooh, there's so much power in waiting. So much. So just wait."

"But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles,they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:31, NRSV

Loving all who care deeply for our church, for our music program, and for each others Listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and

Waiting........ until we can join together again.

Another HYMNSING is coming soon…….

Join us on Sunday, February 14, to sing together of our love for Christ and HIs love for us.

We have some surprise guests that will join us to share some special words of love. You

will not want to miss it! Lou Ann Wilson, Director of Music

Lou’s Lines

tel:336-936-9014

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

310 N Main Street Mocksville NC 27028 Phone: (336) 751-2503 www.firstumcmocksville.org

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 310 N. MAIN STREET | MOCKSVILLE, NC 27028

www.firstumcmocksville.org

Dr. Glenn L. Myers, Jr. Senior Pastor 336.751.2503 X 2224 glenn@firstumcmocksville.org

Teresa Lakey Financial Administrator 336.751.2503 X 2226 teresa@firstumcmocksville.org

Rev. Natalie Gray Associate Pastor 336.751.2503 X 2225 natalie.gray86@yahoo.com Tommy Dunn Music/Technology/Office 336.751.2503 X 2221 tommy@firstumcmocksville.org

Allison Gupton Childcare Ministries 336.753.1900 allison@firstumcmocksville.org

Lou Wilson Director of Music 336.751.2503 X 2238 lou@firstumcmocksville.org Philip Morris Custodial Staff

The mission of First United Methodist Church is to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord, to receive the power of the Holy Spirit,

and to respond to the needs of others with the love of God the Father.