July 2015

The Epistle Mt. Bethel UMC

Newsletter 9042 NC HWY 127N Hickory, NC 28601

(828) 495-8941 Email address:

mt.bethel@charter.net Website address:

www.mtbethelumc.org

Pastor: Rev Steve Johnson Church (828) 495-8941 Home (828) 495-7435

Email: sjohnson@wnccumc.net Secretary/Treasurer

Denise Lewis Financial Secretary Rhonda Reinhardt Director of Music

Don Benfield Youth Coordinator:

Andrew Bolick Children’s Coordinator:

Candace Bolick Church Librarian: Carlene Blackburn Church Custodian

ASC/SDC Director: Kathy Travis

CDC Director: Kimberly Crane

Administrative Council Chairman: Max Watson

Service Times:

Sunday Coffee Social 8:30am

Sunday School 9:00am Worship Service 10:00am

Choir Practice/UMYF 6:00

Monday Prayer Grp 10am

Echoes of Heaven Prac 7:30pm

Tuesday Summer Exercise 6:30pm

Wednesday

Gospelaires Practice 8:45am

Thursday Summer Exercise 6:30pm

Page 1/July 2015

From the Pastor’s Desk Grace and Peace, Pastor Steve

As we come to July, we begin a new conference year in the WNC Conference of the UMC. Our Annual Conference meeting at Lake Junaluska June 17-21 was good with days full of church busi-ness, reports, elections, and worship which is a highlight of the Conference! Speaking of highlights, I will share below a brief summary of some things our District Superintendent Lory Beth Huffman listed in our weekly District email the week following Annual Conference. But first, appointments are now official. Karen and I are glad to be back with you to begin our eighth year here at Mt. Beth-el. It is a blessing to serve as your pastor, and Karen and I cherish being a part of the church family here. We need your prayers as we begin this new conference year together as we follow Jesus in the work of discipleship, evangelism, and missions. As mentioned previously, our DS Lory Beth Huff-man is leaving the Appalachian District to become the new Senior Pastor at Centenary UMC in Winston-Salem. Rev. Dr. Carl Arrington, who has been serving as Senior Pastor of Chestnut Grove UMC in King, NC, will be the new District Superintendent of the Appalachian District effective July 1. Moving day for all our pastoral families changing appointments is June 30th. Let’s be in prayer for them and the churches receiving them! The following excerpt comes from our Appalachian District weekly email dated June 24. Rev. Lory Beth Huffman wrote: “I wanted to take a brief moment and share with those who did not attend our Annual Conference a few highlights of the work that was accomplished last week at Lake Ju-naluska. You can check the Conference website for full details - http://ac2015.org/ . Highlights in-clude: -Election of Delegates representing the Western North Carolina Conference at General and Jurisdic-tional Conference next year. (See the link above to see the list of laity and clergy elected.) -Excellent preaching by Bishop McAlilly, Dr. Kim Cape, and Bishop Goodpaster at our worship services -Ordination of Elders and Deacons: Those from the Appalachian District include Rev. Dan Bru-baker, Rev. Kristy Burnette, Rev. Jeannette Hayes, Rev. Chris Lakey, and Rev. Julie Roberts. -Commissioning of Candidates for Ministry- Rev. Kyle Sigmon from the Appalachian District -We approved the 2016 budget at a slight decrease (1.2%) -We asked Bishop Goodpaster to set up a task force to look at our public schools and public policy to help advocate for the education of our children in North Carolina. -We also asked the Bishop to set up Conversations over the next year across the Conference in con-junction with our Justice and Reconciliation Team around hot topic issues so that we can practice Christian Conferencing with those of differing perspectives. -We also approved requiring churches to have a formal appraisal (inspection) of their parsonage completed when there is a change of pastor (unless one has been done in the past 4 years). -We celebrated the life of all clergy and clergy spouses who passed away in the last year. -Of course there were many reports and videos and speakers that shared all of the ministry that has happened over the past year and hopes of new ministries begun in the coming year.” Our days at Lake Junaluska began with the very sad news of the shooting on June 17 of the nine persons at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC. Bishop Goodpaster was at the point of tears when he shared this terrible news with the delegates gathered on Thursday morning. Later in the day, he and the other UM Bishops of the Southeastern Jurisdiction sent a joint letter expressing our grief and prayers to the AME Bishop and to the UMC Bishop in South Caroli-na. Not only were these nine who were slain fellow Christians, but were also part of our Methodist family. We have all been touched by the news from the Emanuel AME Church family. The for-giveness expressed from those affected is beyond words. This has touched close to home among the clergy and all of us who gather in welcoming environments of worship and small group Bible study. Let us be in prayer for the victims’ families, for the church family there, and for the one who did this terrible crime. May God be with each of you and protect you in these days. Please note the happenings for July in this newsletter, and come and worship with us!

The Epistle Page 2/September 2005

Page 2/July 2015

MT. BETHEL UMC COUNTRY BREAKFAST

SATURDAY, JULY 25 7:00AM SAUSAGE, BACON, LIVERMUSH, EGGS, GRITS,

APPLES, BISCUITS & GRAVY. $6.00 Adults, $3.00 children 4-10, Children <3 Free.

All proceeds will go to help support the

mission of the church.

JOY NEWS  .

No July Meeting for Just Older Youth

SUMMER DAY CAMP JUNE 15– AUG 21 K-8 GRADES

6:00AM—6:00 PM

Our Activities Are: Daily Devotions

Group field trips! Weekly water day! · Watch movies

Fun crafts and games!     And most importantly, TO HAVE FUN!  

1st Registration is FREE!!! Contact Kathy Travis or the church office for

registration forms.

Coming-Save the Dates…………

MOTHER’S DAY/ FATHER’S DAY BULLETINS

The proceeds from the Mother’s Day and

Father’s Day special bulletins where names

were submitted in memory or honor of

someone totaled $870. The money was split

equally between the Building Fund and the

Maintenance Fund.

MT. BETHEL UMC HOMECOMING WEEKEND

SATURDAY-SUNDAY August 8-9

Homecoming Weekend Event on Saturday outside at Mt. Bethel (weather permitting)

5PM. More details TBA. Rev. Joe Fulk will be our guest

speaker in Sunday worship followed by a covered dish lunch.

UMW COOKOUT AT THE MORETZ’S LAKE HOUSE

SUNDAY

August 16 4:00PM

Attendees are requested to bring

desserts and drinks and don’t forget your lawn chairs!

The Epistle

Page 3/July 2015

UMM 2015 UMM Fellowship Summer Lake Cookout

The men were honored to financially assist

the youth members and adult chaperon in travel ex-penses on their recent mission trip to Plymouth, NC. Thanks to all who came out and gave the Gift of Life at our recent Red Cross Blood Drive.

Mark your calendars now and be there for the 2015 UMM Summer Lake Cookout nestled down by the lake at Dewitt and Sarah Moretz’s home on Sat-urday, July 18th starting 4:00pm. There will be ham-burgers and hotdogs supplied by the men, prepared by local Master Chef “L Dewitt”. Everyone is asked to bring a side dish / dessert from their favorite recipe archives along with a drink to go with the hamburg-ers and hotdogs. If there is a particular yard game you enjoy, by all means bring and share (teach) it to those gathered. Oh, and don’t forget your relaxing lawn chair. There is an awesome shade area be-neath the big backyard tree where stories are shared, laughter heard, the soft echoing rippling of occasional incoming waves, friendships renewed and there is a slight chance you might catch someone even taking a peaceful nap (usually too much excite-ment going, but you never know). There might possi-bly be a chance of a relaxing boat ride down the lake or an exciting adventure on a jet ski. You won’t know if you don’t attend. The event will be held, rain or shine. This is a time where we can come together as brothers and sisters in Christ while just enjoying each other’s company and admire God’s creations.

This event will take the place of our July Fel-lowship meeting and the men have decided not to meet during August due to Homecoming activities. Our next UMM’s Fellowship gathering will be Sunday morning, September 13th at 7:00AM in the church fellowship hall for fellowship, devotions, breakfast, and going about doing God’s will in serving others! All males of the church are invited to join our fellow-ship of brothers and see how we, individually and as a team, can be a tool and an instrument used for the cultivation of others in Christ Jesus. So men, bring a friend with you!

UMM Secretary Kevin Beard / Rodney Bolick

2015 LAITY SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS

JUDY JONES & CECIL BLACKBURN

Thanks for all you do for the lord and your church!!!

UMYF At the time of writing this month’s article, our youth members and chaperon are over half-way through with their joint mission trip at Plymouth, and will be returning home this weekend (27th). Thank you again to those who gave of your finances in aid and your support in prayer for this group and their efforts. We eagerly wait to hear of their experiences in service and fellowship with the partnering groups from Mor- ganton and Union Grove. As a means to beat the heat of July, the UMYF will be venturing on an air conditioned outing of fellowship and fun to Sky Zone Trampoline Park in Charlotte, NC. The tentative date of the outing is set for Sunday afternoon, July 19th. Cost for admission to the park will be $14 per youth or less, depending on whether a group rate is met. More details will follow at normal UMYF meet-ings. The UMYF will be aiding this month with VBS as group leaders and as needed for other areas of supervision. We are very much looking forward to our joint bible school with Shiloh this year and hope to see our Mt. Bethel youth of all ages in attendance for what will be an exciting weekend! Normal UMYF meetings will continue on Sunday evenings from 6 to 7:30. May the Lord bless and keep you, Andrew Bolick

The Epistle Page 4/July 2015

FRIDAY-SUNDAY JULY 10-12 6:00-8:30PM VBS WEEKEND 2015

(JOINTLY WITH SHILOH LUTHERAN CHURCH FOR ALL AGES) “OUTBACK ROCK”

Get Hoppin' to the Wildest Weekend Down Under! LED BY CHILDREN’S COORDINATOR CANDACE BOLICK

Pastor Steve will teach a class for adults on the theme “Joseph: The Man with a Divine Purpose”.

The following items are needed and can be brought and placed in the corner of the fellowship hall. Please label all items that are to be returned.

Fake plants/bushes Any type of Australian Animals (kangaroo, koala, alligator, crocodile, etc...) Bars of Soap ( 51full size bars) Clothespins (around 100)

God’s Kids Club Events (GKC)

Well, the Summer has started out as a HOT one for all of our GKC Kids. I know everyone is enjoying their summer vacation. The children and myself would like to send out a huge Thank You to the Bullard's for letting us use their pool on June 14th. We enjoyed hot dogs, des-serts, ice-cream, and of course the pool! For the month of July we are planning and preparing for our VBS, which will start on July 10th and end on July 12th. This year we will be partnering with Shiloh Lutheran Church. Our theme is “Outback Rock”, which is set in Aus-tralia. I hope everyone can come join us for a fun time

"Down Under In the Outback"!

Candace Bolick, Children’s Coordinator

There will be an information/planning meeting on Thursday, July 16 at 7:00pm

to discuss interest in a

THURSDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY/ SMALL GROUP EXPERIENCE

for this fall. Anyone interested should attend. Materials will be ordered based on the decision made at this meeting.

Page 5/July 2015

The Epistle

SAVE THE DATE — UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR … AUGUST Sunday, Aug 2 Administrative Council Meeting 7:00PM (for July) Wednesday, August 5 CDC Meeting 6:30PM Friday-Saturday August 7-8 Gathering of the Laity @ Lake Junaluska Saturday, August 8 Homecoming Weekend Event 5:00PM outdoors at Mt. Bethel (weather permitting) Sunday, August 9 Homecoming Sunday Worship w/Rev. Joe Fulk followed by Covered Dish Lunch Tuesday, August 11 Worship Committee Meeting 7:00PM Sunday, August 16 UMW Cookout at the Lake 4:00PM Monday, August 17 VOW Meeting 6:30PM Wednesday, August 19 S/PPRC Meeting (To begin prep for CC) 6:30PM Friday, August 21Last Day of Summer Day Camp Saturday, August 22 Country Breakfast /Yard Sale?? 7:00AM Sunday, August 23 Administrative Council Meeting 7:00PM Tuesday, August 25 Nominating Committee Meeting 7:00PM Wednesday, August 26 CROP Walk Kick-Off & Team Captain Orientation Meeting 6:00PM Sunday, August 30 Promotion/Launch Fall Season Sunday 5th Sunday Sing 6:30PM SEPTEMBER Tuesday, Sept 1 Nominating Committee 7:00PM Wednesday, Sept 2 CDC Meeting 6:30PM Monday, Sept 7 Church office closed for Labor Day Friday-Sunday Sept 11-13 Mt. Bethel UMC Camping Weekend at Green Mtn Park Resort in Lenoir Friday-Sunday Sept 11-13 UMW Annual Meeting @ Lake Junaluska Sunday, Sept 13 Pastor Steve preaching @ Alexander County Minimum Security Unit 6:30PM Monday, Sept 14 UMM sponsored American Red Cross Bloodmobile 3:00-7:30PM Tuesday, Sept 15 Worship Committee 7:00PM Saturday, Sept 19 Bethlehem Day Appalachian District Laity Event-Topic “Discipleship” Sunday, Sept 20 GKC Mystery Hill Outing–Blowing Rock leaving at 11:30AM Tuesday, Sept 22 VOW Meeting 7:00PM Saturday, Sept 26 Country Breakfast 7:00AM Sunday, Sept 27 Christian Education/Teacher Appreciation Sunday followed by a covered dish luncheon UMW District Annual Meeting Administrative Council Meeting 7:00PM

PRAYER LIST Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let our requests be made known to God.” IIl Health—Lee McLawhon, Kayla Atapovich, Ms. Emma Bass, Joe Woods, John Wood, Neil Bowman, Martha Bow-man, Kevin Beard, Gail Sprouse, Joe & Jill Reinhardt, Tommy Punch Jr., Bishop Robert Taylor, Wesley Starnes, Joy Bumgarner, Rodger, Ann Rose, Mae Teague, Shirley Isenhour, Steve Bolick, Howard “Butch” Reese, Annette Gammon, Mark Bolick, Jamie Teeters, Mary Earnhardt , Pat Benson, Melza Starnes, Fred & Ruth Starnes, Helen Sigmon, Butch Minyard, Jennie Icard, Sandy Austin, Julia Wilburn, Arlene Dunn, Pete Rector, Marty Moretz, Dawn Lovern, Lori Lew-is, Rhonda Moser Home Members—Mae Eckard, Lena Moretz, Emily Armstrong, Don Boliek, Susan Sigmon Cancer—Brenda Brittain, Tammy Adams, Chip Ross, Earl Cobb, Amber Davis, Christine Gates, Everett Moose, Ken Mays, Alice Dawson, Von Moser, Roy Bowman, Sheila Dewey, Tim Starnes General Concern—David Stone, Brian Stone Family, Krissy Atapovich Family, Becky, Lexie, & Jackson Ward, Kelly Blanton, Dianne Shaw, Kim Hawkins, Stephanie Baker, Tommy Punch Sr., Nidia Bryant, Melinda Coleman, Darrell, Jackie, Abby & Leah Starnes, Glenn Parks & Family, Robert & Derriann Powell, Martha Nell Bowman Military—Ernest Jones Surgery & Recovery— Monica Blackburn, Doug Boliek, Benjamin Reep, Rev. Steve Joyce, Carolyn Bolick, Linda Phelps, Dewitt Moretz, Marty Lawing, Susan Shipley Deaths--Families of Mary Stokes, Charles Sipe

JULY

ANNIVERSARIES

1 Mary & Thomas Penn 4 Joyce & George Clark 5 Bobbie & Dick Klein 16 Rhonda & Kevin Reinhardt 22 Carlene & Scott Blackburn

Mary & Talmage Bowman 30 Pam & Jerry Williamson

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Page 6/July 2015 The Epistle

AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE

Sponsored by the UMM MONDAY, JUNE 15

33 PINTS COLLECTED Thanks for the gift of life!!! Next Blood Drive will be September 14 3:00-7:30PM

JULY BIRTHDAYS

1 Ann Kirby, Melanie Cofer 2 Michael Crawford 3 Jesse Travis, Jeffrey Travis 4 Kevin Reinhardt, Lisa Little 6 Melza Starnes, Wesley Starnes 7 Manda Bass 9 Tim Blackburn, Katy McLawhon 10 Kim Privette 12 Taylor Squiric, Nicole Mozer, Kaitlyn Mozer 14 Star Moretz 15 Kyle Benfield 16 Louise Wilkinson 17 Makala Starnes 19 Diane Rogers, Dennis Morris 20 Hannah Starnes 21 Nicole Icard, Nancy Edwards 22 Theresa McDanel 23 Cecil Blackburn, Cindy McLawhon 24 Joseph DeCenzo, Jerry Rogers 25 David Flowers 26 Carroll Bolick 28 Leah Catherine Starnes 29 Anthony Bowman 30 Ashley Starnes

ALEXANDER COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Is looking for Saturday volunteers to

help them build a home for a deserving family. They are asking the churches in our county to each provide two volunteer workers each Saturday during the building season.

Volunteers need to be 16 or older, wear appropriate clothes and shoes,

and have a willing heart. If interested, there is a sign up sheet in the narthex with dates. You may call

Matt Cooksey at 828-612-2630 for questions. Thanks!

MT BETHEL UMC CAMPING WEEKEND

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

SEPTEMBER 11-13

AT GREEN MOUNTAIN PARK RESORT

IN LENOIR

If interested in participating please contact

Kevin Beard at 495-4883.

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Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church 9042 NC HWY 127 Hickory, North Carolina 28601

Return Service Requested

Western North Carolina Conference

Title: The Epistle Date July 2015 Issue: Volume 20 Issue 7 Published: Monthly with Exceptions By: Mount Bethel United Methodist Church 9042 NC HWY 127 Hickory, NC 28601

 Mt. Bethel United  Methodist Church 

 “Our Mission Statement” 

“The mission of Mt Bethel United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ by proclaiming the good news of God’s grace and by exemplifying Jesus’ command to love God and neighbor.  We  

believe that the heart of Chris an ministry is Christ’s ministry of outreaching love.  Together, we seek  to be the expression of the mind and mission of Christ by living our daily lives in light of our                        

rela onship with God.”