theConnectionF I R S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H C A R Y

OctOber 2, 2015

WOrship:

Sunday Sanctuary: 8:25, 9:45, & 11:05 a.m.

Sunday Celebration: 11:11 a.m.

117 South Academy Street Cary, NC 27511

Sunday 1st on Chatham: 9:45 a.m.

The Cary, 122 E. Chatham Street, Cary, NC 27511

office: (919) 467-1861

pastor on call: (919) 467-1862

firstcary.com

Lori Barmer Communications Coordinator

OUR MISSIONTo make disciples of

Jesus Christ who grow in faith and love through

worship, fellowship, service and witness to one another

and the world.

Sharing the heartof Christ from the

heart of Cary.

Sharing Love with Vulnerable Children

Suzanne Gordon, First UMC Cary member and Stephen Minister has a real passion for Communities in Schools of Wake County. She said, “I have worked with CIS for the past 10 years both as a volunteer mentor/tutor and a board member, serving as board chair for two years. CIS works with

young people who are at risk, meaning they are not on a path to graduate. We work with them to help them stay in school, graduate and achieve their full potential in life. We work in schools through our graduation coaches and at our five after school learning centers in Federal Housing Communities. We directly help over 2,000 students every year. Think Mighty Mondays but bigger.

“Our mission ties directly into a directive from Bishop Hope Morgan Ward. At the 2013 North Carolina Annual Conference, Bishop Hope, along with Western North Carolina Conference Bishop Larry Goodpaster, and United Methodist layperson and NC State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. June Atkinson, cast a vision of congregations connecting in ministry with schools across our state. They spoke of sharing love with vulnerable children and supporting the work of teachers. They painted a portrait of discipleship and love that will transform the lives of children and our communities and challenged us to partner with schools, teachers, and school children in our neighborhoods.

“I first got involved when I was working for SAS and they had just built one of the CIS learning centers at Kentwood, a federal housing community. I heard them talk about committing just one hour a week to a young person as a mentor. I wondered if this could really make a difference. I started helping a young man and quickly became the

most consistent person in his life. I was not the only person–his alcoholic mother loved him–but he marveled that I was there every week and on time and that I kept my promises. He was 12 then and is 22 now. He is not a total success story but I still keep up with him and he calls me G-ma. He has taught me so much about a different life of poverty that many of these young people have, without all the things we at First UMC Cary take for granted. I am now working with an awesome young girl who I started with at East Wake Middle; she is extremely hard-working but has a slight learning disability. Her family fled the Congo because of persecution. She gets picked on and bullied and suffered from self-esteem problems. My Stephen Ministry training comes in handy with her as I listen and encourage her.”

“Communities In Schools of Wake County” has been chosen for this year’s primary recipient of the State Fair booth proceeds. Support this ministry by signing up to serve at the State Fair booth. You’ll be glad you did! Serving–whether taking orders, serving soft drinks, busing tables or rolling out biscuit dough–is a fun, family-friendly way to help our church serve our community. Sign up to serve and become a part of the 100-year legacy! For available shifts, visit firstcary.com and click on the “State Fair” button in the middle of the page.

“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” Matthew 10:42

DedicationOn Sunday, October 11, we will dedicate a new set of Malmark choirchimes, given by the Charlie Hatch family in memory of his late wife, Martha Hatch. “Martha was an integral part of the music ministry of First UMC Cary, and these instruments will be a fitting tribute to her memory,” said Kerry Johnston, Director of Music Ministry.

“Martha was an original member of the first adult handbell group that was formed back in the 1980s under the direction of Jayne Smith, the director of music at the time,” recalled Phyllis Marlette. Phyllis was also a member of that very first group. “Martha attended rehearsals faithfully and loved being a part of the initial group of ladies and always had a positive attitude and a love of music. And she was a lot of fun to be around! She was absolutely a faithful servant of the Lord: an active member of her circle, Sunday school class, choir, handbells, Chapel Singers and always participated in the church’s ministries. She was a very loving, loyal and supportive friend. She was always quick to help in any way she could and was just a joy to know.”

Ann Leary, who teaches the children’s choirchimes, said, “Martha played in the Carillon Handbell Choir at First UMC Cary for many, many years and I had the pleasure of playing with her. She consistently added life and laughter to our group. Martha loved going on trips with the handbell choir and we went on many through the years, including performances at the White House, the Governor’s Mansion, Disney World, Christmas Tree Lightings for the Town of Cary, and numerous Bell Festivals in NC and Virginia, as well as playing for several weddings at our church. Martha loved to have a good time wherever we went. She was loyal, fun-loving, and dedicated to her family, friends, and her church. She loved playing handbells and is most definitely smiling down on us as the new chimes are dedicated in her memory. I’m betting there are bells in Heaven and she is ringing them! Sincere thanks, Martha, for serving our church so beautifully for so many years. Your inspiration and the example you set live on.”

Mary Helen Ripberger said, “Martha was a fun-loving, faithful bell choir member and a good friend. She loved playing the bells and since some of us did not read music very well, she could step in and play any position if needed. We had many enjoyable and sometimes nerve-wracking adventures playing bells in those early years, but fortunately our director Jayne Smith had nerves of steel! It was a fun, gratifying and learning time for all of us.”

“Martha will forever hold a special place in my heart for the kind and caring friend that she always was,” said Charlotte West. “Her commitment to the First UMC Cary Music Ministry is legendary. She always sang in the choir, often at all three sanctuary services on most Sundays. She was a devoted member of the Chapel Singers and the Adult Handbell Choir. Through performance engagements of these two groups, we went on many musical ‘field trips’ including Disney World and the White House at Christmas. Martha was the accomplished musician; I was a part of the support crew. Wherever we were, Martha always looked for ways to serve those around her. Her positive outlook gave hope in every situation, even when we missed the Metro into Washington or the bus broke down on the way back from Disney. That these choirchimes will be dedicated in her memory is so fitting. I’m sure her heart is singing!”

Barbara Marley, bell choir director, said, “After consultation with Charlie, it was decided that we would ask someone to write a piece that would incorporate both handbells (Martha’s instrument) and choirchimes (for children), so we could use the new set which was purchased in her memory. Charlie chose ‘Jesus Loves Me’ to be arranged in Martha’s honor – a nod to her love of children. The arranger, Jason W. Krug, was clearly excited about doing this for us, and the end result is a beautiful new arrangement. The dedication line reads, ‘Commissioned in loving memory of Martha Hatch, faithful handbell ringer and choir member at First United Methodist Church, Cary, North Carolina, by her husband, Charlie Hatch, her family, and her friends.’”

The dedication of the choirchimes will take place at the 9:45 sanctuary worship service on October 11. In addition, the Celebration Ringers and Carillon Ringers will premiere the new arrangement for handbells and choirchimes, commissioned in memory of Martha Hatch. – Lori Barmer

At the White House December 1988: Cindy Whitaker, Ann Leary, Phyllis Marlette, Pat Dixon, Pat Bishop, Buddy West, Craig Gaither, David Marlette, Martha Hatch, Judy Cutts, Mary Helen Ripberger, Mary Raver, Jayne Smith

Serving Up Smiles for 100 Years!The Cary Methodist State Fair booth, in operation since 1916, is actually a small diner that serves the best ham biscuits you’ll find anywhere. It is also the source of funding for many First UMC Cary outreach ministries.

Originally, the funds were used to pay on the building debt. Over the years we’ve been able to contribute to the Methodist Home for Children, Baskets of Hope, Dorcas Ministries, hurricane relief in North Carolina, Imagine No Malaria, as well as providing help to those in Mississippi whose lives were devastated after hurricane Katrina. This year “Communities In Schools of Wake County” has been chosen as the primary recipient of the State Fair booth proceeds.

Jeanette Bell has been the State Fair booth coordinator for several years. She said, “From the prayer tents on the tables to the smiles of the workers, the State Fair booth is a witnessing ministry to the community. It is the only ministry in the church that every member can be a part of. Our Insiders who may not be able to physically be there, help with reminder calls. We also offer meals to the Chaplains at the fair and often give a complimentary meal to a soldier, or police officer.” Last year Bishop Hope Morgan Ward spent one morning greeting hungry fair-goers who lined up at the booth for breakfast.

Serving at the State Fair booth–whether taking orders, serving soft drinks, busing tables or rolling out biscuit dough–is a fun, family-friendly way to help our church serve our community. Sign up to serve and become a part of the 100-year legacy! For available shifts, visit firstcary.com and click on the “State Fair” button in the middle of the page. – Lori Barmer

Blessing of the AnimalsSt. Francis of Asissi (1181 – 1226) is remembered for his generosity to the poor, his willingness to care for lepers, his love of creation, and especially for his love of God’s creatures. St. Francis is known as the Patron Saint of Animals.

The Feast of St. Francis is celebrated each year on October 4. Churches around the world host a Blessing of the Animals

service at or near the time of the Feast of St. Francis. We will celebrate a Blessing of the Animals service on Saturday, October 10. It will be held in the Templeton Courtyard at 4:00pm.

You are invited to bring your pet to receive a blessing. Pets may include dogs, cats, fish and birds, etc. If you prefer, you may bring a picture of your pet. The service will last about 40 minutes.

We are called to be stewards of all of God’s good creation. Persons are encouraged to bring an offering, to be given to a local animal shelter.

In the words of St. Francis “All Creatures of Our God and King”

Let all things their Creator bless,

And worship him in humbleness,

O praise ye! Alleluia!

Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,

And praise the Spirit, Three in One!

– Rev. William Green

This is what the State Fairgrounds looked like when the “Cary Methodist State Fair Booth” began.

Pastors On-Call Your pastors continue to seek ways to provide you with quality pastoral care while balancing the other demands of ministry. In an effort to be available, we have an “on-call” system. If you need to reach a pastor in an emergency situation, you may call (919) 467-1862 to reach the on-call pastor for that week. There is also an option to dial this line directly when calling the church office. When you call this number, the pastor on call for the week will respond as soon as possible. Please be mindful when calling this number, as it is for true emergencies only. This includes a death, sudden critical hospitalization of a member, or other such situations. Pastoral care for non-emergencies, such as scheduled hospitalizations, can be arranged through the front office.

Favorite ScripturePsalm 97:10-12 (nrsv)

The Lord loves those who hate evil; he guards the lives of his faithful; he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.

Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!

Dinner begins at 5:30pmCost: $7 for adults, $6 for seniors 65+,

$4 for children 12 and under, $22 max

Small Groups begin at 6:30pm for adults, youth

and children

October 7: Youth Spaghetti, brocolli, salad, garlic bread

October 14: UMW Poppyseed chicken, roasted red potato,

carrots, salad, rollRSVP by noon the Tuesday before at firstcary.com or call 919-467-1861.

MannaFest 2015All I could think of on Sunday morning was the old hymn “there shall be

showers of blessings...” And there were! There was the rain and then there were the blessings. MannaFest 2015 was an experience of the gentle rain of grace, the showers of God’s blessings, and the renewal which God pours on the church as it

waits upon the Lord. “Mercy-drops round us were falling.” Thanks be to God!

– Rev. Frazier, Lead Pastor

Bridge the Gap Mission Winter Coat DriveWe are accepting new (or like new) winter coats, hats, gloves and mittens!

All sizes needed from infant to adult for both male and female. All items collected will be distributed on November 7 at Bridge the Gap Mission, located at 231 S. East Street. We will collect a small fee of $.50 to $1.00 per coat. Part of our mission is to foster self-worth in poor and needy in Southeast Raleigh. Any money collected will go toward our Christmas event.

Please place these items in the two collection boxes at the church: one in the hallway and one in the office. We appreciate your support!

Young Adult Community GroupFinding God in the midst of living is hard, especially when your life is in a constant state of transition. That’s why we have a weekly opportunity for young adults to experience God in a community that is relaxed and familiar; in a way that works with your transient schedule and transient life. Join us on Wednesday Nights at Caribou Coffee in Cary, at 7:00pm for a simple hour of conversation, in an effort to connect with God, and connect with people. It may end up being the one thing in your life right now that doesn’t change, and helps you feel a little more grounded. You may email Kollin at kbaer@firstcary.com if you have any questions.

Fair Booth ProceedsThe State Fair Booth Proceeds Committee has considered the requests for funding from the 2014 State Fair. Earlier this year, grants were made to support “Fill Your Bucket List Foundation” and to provide housing assistance to a refugee family. At our August meeting, a grant was approved for the Music & Memory ministry and payment was approved for the planned donation to the UMC Capital District initiative to “Imagine No Malaria”. The committee also approved “Communities In Schools” as the primary recipient of the 2015 State Fair Booth Proceeds. Visit firstcary.com and click on the “registration” button to sign up to serve at the State Fair booth! Gracious Harvest Yam DigSave the date for one of Gracious Harvest’s favorite annual events, the Yam Dig! Plan to join us on Saturday, October 10 at 9:00am for a garden treasure hunt that’s perfect for kids of all ages, and yields delicious sweet potatoes to bring home. This is one of the most fun days in the garden all year! Dress to get dirty, and bring garden/work gloves! Our community garden’s new location is directly behind the columbarium, with easy access from the main parking lot.

JOY Lunch & LearnOn November 19 at 11:30am in the First UMC Cary Fellowship Hall, join us for soup, sandwich, beverage and dessert and a presentation by Bob Warner about rail travel and rail safety in North Carolina. The cost is $6 and you can visit firstcary.com or call 919-467-1861 to RSVP. All are welcome to attend!

Seekers Bible StudySeekers Bible Study meets Wednesday mornings from 9:30-11:00 in room 210. We will be doing the upcoming studies, and welcome any new members to join us for either or both!• “Let It Go” by Karen Ehman, October 7-November 11• “Purpose of Christmas” by Rick Warren, November

18-December 9 (no meeting Thanksgiving week)If you are interested in joining us please contact Katrina Morrocco at 919-468-2971 or Janet McGuinness at 352-284-1118. PilgrimageAll 8th-12th grade youth are invited to this weekend event for UMYF (United Methodist Youth Fellowship) groups in which youth and adult advisors are challenged to a new or deeper faith in Jesus Christ. The event will focus on faith sharing and discipleship for youth and their adult advisors. Pilgrimage helps youth discover that discipleship can be challenging and fun! The theme is SHINE! Live into Matthew 5:16. Registration Deadline is October 14 Contact Kim Chestnutt at kchestnutt@fumc-cary.org with questions.

GriefShare Offers Hope and HealingGrieving the loss of someone you love is one of the most painful events we face in life. Pain and emptiness are expected. But the unforeseen pitfalls of grief seem to be most overwhelming.

GriefShare is a 13-week-long program designed to encourage healing by walking with others that are also grieving. Each week, different topics are addressed in relevant videos, with various individuals sharing their wisdom to promote healing. They share how they were able to find a “new normal” in their lives, filled with joy and hope for the future. If you have lost a loved one and are struggling with your grief, we encourage you attend GriefShare.

There is a fee of $15 for the GriefShare workbook. If you are repeating the series and already have your workbook, there is no fee. We will meet Thursdays this Fall, from 7:00 to 9:00pm in room 125. You may visit firstcary.com (click the “registration” button on the home page) to register.

Wednesday Night Community GroupOur community group is an intergenerational group committed to becoming an extended family on mission: a place to grow closer to Christ, friends, and the community. We gather in a home from 5:30 (or whenever you make it) until 7:30 on Wednesday evenings to share a potluck meal and discuss our faith. If you would be interested in more details please contact Rev. Colin Snider at csnider@fumc-cary.org.

Health Ministries Challenge Health Ministries is bringing back the “More of This, Less of That” Challenge on October 18! Choose your “more of this, less of that” you would like to focus on over the next 30 days. This year’s challenge will focus on caring for our minds, bodies and souls and supporting fellow participants. Participants will receive a prize! Sidenote…it will also get you prepped and ready for Walk To Bethlehem 2015! Email Christin Simpson csimpson519@gmail.com with the name, email and goals of each participant. Become friends with “Be Oriented” on Facebook and email Christin to receive the Daily Health Nugg-ITS via email.

Discipleship Resources Equipping SessionWant to know more about the Discipleship Resources available for use by Small Groups, Sunday School Classes, Prayer Teams, and Fellowship Groups? Then come for a brief Discipleship Resources Equipping Session on Sunday, October 11, at 12:15! First UMC Cary is blessed with a great variety of excellent discipleship materials and is blessed with a dedicated servant team who has re-worked and re-organized the materials to be even more accessible for our use. So your group has already done many of the current resources? No problem! We will have many new resources, books, study guides, and DVDs to share with you during our time together, including new offerings for the seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Lent.This invitation is extended to all interested persons, especially the Leaders, Facilitators, and Teachers of all Discipleship and Study Groups in the church. This will be a time of learning, equipping, networking with other participants, and yes, even a light lunch given the hour! Contact Reverend Martha McLean, Pastor of Christian Formation, for more information at mmclean@fumc-cary.org.

Gleaning: SoSA Yam JamThe Yam Jam sweet potato gleaning season is upon us again! This year’s Yam Jam will take place the last four Saturdays in October – 10/10, 10/17, 10/24 and 10/31. The sweet potato fields are being provided by several area farmers who are long supporters of our mission to provide surplus produce to our neighbors in need.This is a great way to fulfill a mission commitment, for students to obtain service credits, or to just come out knowing that the potatoes you glean will be given at no cost to local folks who need them most. Although we glean many tons of sweet potatoes each Fall, we still leave tons behind. The more gleaners we have, the more sweet potatoes we can save. Our gleaners are a happy mix of individuals, families and friends, church and school groups, and company groups engaged in a day of service. There is no limitation on the size of group that can sign up. All are welcome. We will try to ensure that everyone who signs up has opportunity to glean at a farm that is as close as possible to them in order to avoid long drives.

The online sign-up is easy and contains additional information about Yam Jam. It also enables you to volunteer to deliver sweet potatoes to a charitable agency of your choice. Many of our volunteer gleaners deliver produce to recognized agencies in their communities throughout the year. Sign up at: http://endhunger.org/nc-yam-jam/After you register, you will receive guidance on what the gleaning involves, what to wear and bring with you, and where your assigned farm is. Please be patient; we will get back to you in good time!The Society of St. Andrew relies solely on the good will of volunteers to save the wonderful crops that our farmer partners allow us to glean. Our gleaning program would not exist without you and your fellow volunteers who come out for a few hours several times a year to help relieve local hunger.

Fellowship Feast SignupsIf your small group, circle, Sunday school class or outreach team would like to raise money by hosting a Fellowship Feast, please sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c45ada82e5-2015161.

Did You Know…Church Council meeting minutes can be found on our website?Visit http://firstcary.com/category/church-council/ for all church council news and updates!

WORSHIP ATTENDANCE September 20 September 27SANCTUARY: 957 MannaFestCELEBRATION: 98 1st ON CHATHAM 139 TOTAL: 1,047 846