Vol. 46 No. 7 April 1, 2015

Traditional Worship, Sundays, 8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. The Net, Sundays, 11:00 a.m. Multicultural Worship, Sundays, 10:50 a.m. Providence Sanctuary Wolfe Hall-Providence Campus St. John’s Campus, 4305 Monroe Road

Maundy Thursday, April 2

Dinner in the Upper Room

5:30 p.m., Wolfe Hall

Worship Service & Sacrament of Communion

7:00 p.m., Sanctuary St. Mark’s UMC Choir will lead in worship.

The Rev. Jessie Keaton, St. Marks UMC, preaching.

Good Friday, April 3

Service of Tenebrae, 7:00 p.m., Sanctuary

Easter Prayer Vigil

8:00 p.m. Friday - 6:00 a.m. Sunday

Saturday, April 4

Easter Egg Hunt

12:00 p.m., St. John’s Campus

Easter, April 5

Sunrise Service

7:00 a.m., Providence Memorial Garden

Easter Butterfly Release

10:00 a.m., Atrium

Worship Services

Traditional

8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., Sanctuary

“Celebrating Easter”

Chancel Choir and Brass Charlotte

St. John’s Campus

10:50 a.m., Sanctuary

The Net

“Because He Lives...”

11:00 a.m., Wolfe Hall,

Celebrating Easter

In our age of instant communication, there are ideas floating around

the Internet that challenge the notion of Easter.

Some are claiming that the traditions of Easter are rooted in pagan

culture, and therefore Easter should not be celebrated by Christians.

This is just wrong.

From the earliest days of our faith, Christians have celebrated the

resurrection of our Lord. It is the oldest and greatest celebration of all.

We are celebrating the promise of eternal life, and the victory of our

Lord over sin and death.

The earliest text of the New Testament - Philippians 2 - was actually a

hymn that the first Christians sang, and tells of how God has exalted

Jesus and crowned Him Lord of all.

Come celebrate EASTER with us!

Pastor John Fitzgerald

About United Methodism

To help us learn about United Methodism, this series will orient us to the denomination's mission, structure, and ministries.

The Council of Bishops is made up of all active and retired bishops of the United Methodist Church. Bishops are clergy that are elected and consecrated to the office of bishop.

According to the Book of Discipline, “The Church expects the Council of Bishops to speak to the Church and from the Church to the world and to give leadership in the quest for Christian unity and interreligious relationships.”

To learn more, visit www.umc.org/councilofbishops.

Facility News Where did the buses go?

As you may have noticed, the Providence UMC buses are no longer parked in the Sharon Road parking lot.

To accommodate a better flow of car pool traffic for the Weekday School, we will now be parking the buses in our lot at Providence and Ferncliff.

The two parking lots will be relined to indicate the changes to the bus parking, but until then, please know that the spots marked as "Bus Parking Only" in the Sharon Lane parking lot may now be used for car parking.

If a ministry group wishes to use a church bus, it can be requested by completing a Bus Request Form, found on the website under the Resources tab, or at the Welcome Desk. Completed forms should be given to Tosha Beaty in the church office.

Please be mindful to keep our buses clean during trips, and to return the keys to the proper place. The next ministry group that uses the bus depends upon your good stewardship.

Middle School Spring Lock-In April 18-19, 2015

Providence UMC & Knights Stadium Cost: $25 per student

High School Spring Retreat Aoril 24-28, 2015 Ocean Isle, NC

Cost: $80 per student

Middle School Mission Trip June 22-26, 2015

"Destination Unknown" Cost: $85 per student

High School Mission Trip June 22-26, 2015

Sea Island Habitat for Humanity Cost: $150 per student

Garden City Beach Retreat

July 12-18, 2015 Garden City Beach, SC

Cost (After May 1): $235 (1 Student) $460 (2 Students) $685 (3 Students)

Second and third students pay $10 less. EARLY BIRD COST: REGISTER BEFORE MAY 1 AND

RECEIVE A $25 DISCOUNT $210 (1 Student) $410 (2 Students) $610 (3 Students)

Second and third students pay $10 less.

New for 2015! Pay for Summer Youth Retreats & Trips online using PayPal.*

* This service is available only to those paying the entire amount due for the trip(s).

Register and pay online at www.ProvidenceUMC.org/Resources.

Providence UMC Youth: Summer Schedule

COMING APRIL 29: “UnSelfishly Me” 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Room A102/104 Please join the Heath & Wellness Committee and United Methodist Women for a program designed by women, for women discussing the balance of our mental, physical, and spiritual health. It will include a panel of women to answer questions and guide us on our journey.

The Health & Wellness Committee reminds us that April is National Donate Life Month.

You may register to be an organ donor when you renew your NC Driver’s License, or by visiting LifeShare of the Carolina’s website, www.lifesharecarolina.org.

“As Director of Evangelism & Discipleship, my main responsibilities reside around shepherding The Net service and congregation within the greater church, working to create community with a greater focus on Life Groups within Providence’s established small group culture.

My wife Tanya and I met in Connecticut in 2007 and were married in September of 2008. We have three incredible children: Isaiah (5 in June), Kaydence (just turned 3) and Jonah (9 months.) I was born and raised in Albany, NY while Tanya was born in Canada near Niagara Falls.

In my free time (if there is such a thing) I enjoy playing basketball with the church’s basketball ministry and participat-ing with the F3 group. Outside of that, I enjoy dating my wife and being a godly example to my kids along with keeping up with my Hulu addictions!”

Articles for the The Voice are due by noon on the following dates by email to drogers@ProvidenceUMC.org:

04/09, 04/23, 05/07, 05/21, 06/04, and 06/18.

Get to know us: Casey Crimmins Learn more about your Providence UMC staff.

February Stewardship Report How was our stewardship for the month of February?

Financial Faithfulness: Congregational giving was slightly higher than what we anticipated for the month, and expenses were slightly lower, leaving us in a favorable cash position again for February, as well as year-to-date. Congregational giving for February was also higher than this time last year. An amount of $14,795 was spent in February in support of global and local missions.

Worship Faithfulness: Our average attendance for February was 737, a 24% increase over this time last year.

Ministry Faithfulness: Providence On Broadway, our Youth Choir cabaret provided Christian entertainment and fellowship for many people. The choir also led worship on Youth Sunday, providing an authentic message to our congregation. Our pastoral and lay leadership gathered one Saturday for a strategic planning workshop – the first in a series this year – as together we vision where we feel God is leading Providence in the future.

A summary of February expenses can be found at the Welcome Desk. Detailed financial statements for the month of February are in ministry mailboxes, or are available by contacting Rev. Leigh Anne Hagerman.

Providence UMC: A Change of Focus in Haiti

After extensive research, study, evaluation and prayer, our Missions Council and Haiti Team have decided to move our education emphasis and financial commitment from the School of Mercy.

This very difficult and emotional decision was based on many factors, and it is important to note:

The school building is owned by the community, and we are not closing the school. We hope the school will be continued by the community as it is in other places in Haiti.

Infrastructure and capital improvements that have been put in place will remain for the use of the Haitian people including clean running water, electricity, and a new kitchen.

Additionally, due to the new direction of our focus in Haiti, we will be taking a one year break from the Haiti Attic Sale, using this timeframe to discuss new challenges, redesign, rebrand and decide how to designate the funds collected from the sale moving forward. Planning will begin in the near future to begin this process.

Read the official announcement at

www.ProvidenceUMC.org/Resources.

Register for VBS

Register for Music, Art & Drama Camp

Register for Summer Youth Retreats & Trips

Register for P.O.W.

Reserve a Bus

Reserve Facility Space

Give Online

Pledge Online

Much more!

What can you do at

www.ProvidenceUMC.org/Resources?

We want to hear from you! Take our congregational survey - an important opportunity for us all to share

together in assessing who we are and where we see ourselves going.

Completing this survey ensures that your views will be heard and will give us a

baseline as we vision into the future. Your responses are anonymous. The survey

should take fifteen to twenty minutes to complete.

If you have an email on file with the church, the survey will be emailed to you.

You may also take the survey on our website. Please visit the Welcome Desk if

you would like to take the survey on paper.

Senior Adult Ministries (S.A.M. / LiveWires)

Join us for the next fellowship luncheon Thursday, April 16 as we enjoy a program of music by Dr. Adam Ward, Director of Music Ministries and Andrew Pester, Organist.

We will gather at 11:30 a.m. for lunch with the program following after.

Lunch is $5. Bus transportation provided for Aldersgate and Sharon Towers.

Please call the Welcome Desk or 704.714.9383 by noon, Tuesday, April 14 to reserve your seat. Questions? Call Lindsay Tice at 704-877-8648.

SAVE THE DATE! Back by popular demand!

Food Truck Family Jam Season II begins

Saturday, May 2

EASTER NOTES

The Church Office will be closed Easter Monday, April 6.

Easter Parking: We will have MANY guests joining us on Easter. If you are able, please park in our overflow lots located behind Eddie’s Place and Leroy Fox restaurants.

The next Providence Chamber Music recital is next Sunday, April 12 at 7:00 p.m.

The recital includes organ duets performed by our own Providence UMC Music Director, Adam Ward, and Organist, Andrew Pester.

Hear Providence UMC’s Easter invitation

on the radio during Holy Week!