NEW HANOVER UMCNEW HANOVER UMC

February 2020 Newsletter

Inside this Issue:

Pastor’s ViewPoint

Whats Happening in KidMin

Learn ASL through Stories & Worship

Men’s Night Out

APEX Winter Retreat

People Talk

Shine: Women’s Service Ministry

February Calendar

February 1 - ASL Class, “Creation” Story, 6:15 - 7:15 pm

February 1 - ASL Worship Class, 7:30 - 8:15 pm

February 5 - Platter with Chatter, “Movie Day”, 12:00 pm, Chapel

February 7 - KidSit, 5:30 - 8:30pm

February 10- DivorceCare, 7:00 - 8:30 pm

February 16 - Spiritual Growth Campaign begins this week.

February 22 - ASL Meetup, 6:15 - 7:45 pm

February 26 - Ash Wednesday Service, 7:00 pm

February 28-March 1 - Women’s Weekend Retreat, Sandy Cove, Maryland

North Campus Updates by Pastor José “Ricky” Ayala

If you couldn’t make it to the tours at North Campus before we started renovating here is what we have been up to. The first floor consists of 3 regular meeting rooms, 5 bathrooms, 2 locker rooms, 4 offices, electrical equipment room, elevator, custodial closet, game room, kitchenette, full gym, storage room for sports equipment, and lobby area. New carpets were installed in 8 rooms and new floor tiles were installed in all 5 bathrooms. The gym floor was deep cleaned and the lobby floor was cleaned and polished. The divider which separates the full gym into two half courts was serviced. The main entrance automatic doors were serviced. The old fence was removed around the playground (except the one around the large playset) and fence where the septic tank and dumpster is located was replaced. The sign on both sides of the entrance off of N. Charlotte St now reads, “North Campus” on the top layer and “New Hanover UMC” with the church logo on the bottom. A huge “THANK YOU” goes out to all the staff and church volunteers who took time out to assist us with some demo, cleaning, and painting of that facility. By mid-February, the entire first floor will have received a second coat of paint. We then plan to furnish the rooms. We are also working on getting quotes for phone, Internet, and security systems. We want them to be installed and ready to go before we officially open.

After the first floor is completed, we will work on the 2nd floor. The two HVAC units were moved from one side of the building to the other. We will need to build walls for the TVs and staging area, paint, set up visual and audio equipment, proper lighting and soundproofing options, and have the elevator serviced

and certified. We are also working on scheduling dates for open houses. We will keep you posted as to when they will take place.

Thank you to those who have pledged towards North Campus. Without your faithfulness and generous giving this expansion would not be possible. If you are reading this and would like to make a pledge, please reach out to me by email at PastorRicky@newhanoverumc.org or Teresa Mantle, Financial Secretary at teresam@newhanoverumc.org. You can also call the church office at 610-323-2353. With North Campus, wecontinue to look forward to making apositive difference in our church andcommunity. Thank you for being a partof this excitement!

Pastor’s ViewPoint

Senior Pastor, José “Ricky” Ayala

As we head into February, I wanted to provide a quick update on two things I’m working on.

First, by mid-February, it is expected that the first floor of North Campus will be completed. Thank you to all the staff and volunteers who came out to help demo, clean, and paint.

We are working on scheduling open houses for the following: the donors and families who gave to build the YMCA building back in 2004. We want to let them know that even though the YMCA officially closed, that in addition to offering church programs and ministries, we will continue to provide activities and community-centered events; our church family; and the community.

Second, I am working to provide the church with Informational Gatherings to keep everyone informed of the proposals going before this year’s General Conference (May 5-15). The first one will take place in the Chapel on Sunday, February 2 at 11:45 am.

Other Informational Gatherings will be scheduled for March 1 and May 3 at 11:45 am.

This will allow us to have the most updated inf

ormation as the time gets closer for General Conference.

American Sign Language (ASL) Classes: We will be learning ASL using the Beginners Bible Stories. This class will be open for new signers and experienced signers alike. If you are a parent or teacher of young ones and would like to incorporate some sign language in your story time, this would be a great class for you! The class is designed for the adult learner. We hope to offer children ASL in the summer. We will be learning name signs for Biblical characters, places and concepts that will be applicable to everyday life. The cost is $30/month. Classes begin in February with the story of Creation. March’s class will be the Easter Story. Classes are held from 6:15-7:15 in room 205/207.

ASL Worship: Ever feel like you want to worship using sign language? Join Kathryn Midgley as she teaches you

Learn ASL through Stories & Worship by Kathryn Midgley

a song a month that will enhance your public and private worship. This class is open to beginner and experienced signers alike. Classes begin in February with the song, Angus Dei, by Michael W. Smith. March’s class will be I Surrender, by Hillsong. There is no charge for the classes which will be held in room 205/207.

KidMin is excited to finally be back in our home downstairs! We have a lot going on:

Our 3rd Graders are preparing to receive their new Bibles in March. We are asking all 3rd graders to attend the 9:00 am class when possible, with Steve Clark and Wendy White teaching.

Our 5th Graders are preparing for Communion in March. They will be embarking on an overnight retreat at the North Campus the end of March. All 5th grade students must register for this event.

We are all enjoying being back in our

Whats Happening in KidMin by Amy Bates

downstairs space and classrooms! Thank you for your patience and flexibility while the areas were under renovation.

Parents, please make sure your contact information is updated and corrected through the Church Center App. We will be updating events through the KidMin Group!

We will be having a fun night of Axe Throwing at Splitting Edge in Pottstown on Tuesday, March 10 from 8:00-10:00 pm. Cost is $39.99 plus tax. There will be a discounted rate if 30 men register. Sign up on the Church Center App or in the church lobby in February. For more information contact Dave Snyder at men@newhanoverumc.org.

Men’s Night Out by David Snyder

People Talk

Spring Choir Begins!

Benjamin David, son of Brian & Mandi Langdon was dedicated on January 19 at the 9:00 am service.

Natalia Rose, daughter of Brent & Amanda Wagenseller was baptized on January 19 at the 10:30 am service.

Thank you to all the volunteers and staff who came out to help with our MLK Service on Monday, February 20. Thank you both Becky Marshall and Mary Pilcicki for ordering and preparing the food and refreshments for our guests.

Samaritans Purse/Operation Christmas Child is celebrating 10,569,405 shoebox gifts packed worldwide in 2019. Praise the Lord for 10,569,405 more children who get to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ! New Hanover UMC packed 250 of those boxes!

APEX Winter Retreat by Kyle Grater

For all those who enjoy singing, choir practice will begin on Thursday, February 6 at 7:00 pm. Choir will rehearse that night in the old choir room downstairs by Pastor Gil’s office (room 206/208). After that choir will be held in the chapel every Thursday at 7:00 pm.

The 2020 APEX Winter Retreat was a special weekend for both students and leaders. The weekend was filled with fun games, awesome worship, and great messages from Rev. Wayne Morgan. The games for the weekend included gaga ball, laser tag, and “goose chase” (a fun team game comprised of students and leaders running around the camp to take candid photos of each other.) The worship for the weekend was led by the band Freedom Calls. In every worship session, Freedom Calls brought their passion and energy to share their love for Jesus with the students and leaders. One very special moment of worship took place on Saturday night, when the lead guitarist broke off from the normal set they had planned, and started to lead spontaneously into other well-known worship songs. The atmosphere in the room started to change as students and leaders felt a strong sense of authenticity and desire for worship. After every worship session, Wayne Morgan would come and share what was on his heart. Wayne has a specialty for challenging students to use their story to share Jesus with their friends. Overall, APEX Winter Retreat 2020 was a special time for students and leaders to connect, dive into worship, and to reignite their passion for gospel sharing.

Shine: Women’s Service Ministry by Jess Ferraro

Are you caring, compassionate, service oriented, giving, creative, shy, outgoing, organized, big hot mess, loving, goal-oriented, dreamer, and kind? If so, I would love to have you join my new core team to start a new service branch of Women’s Ministry. Our new core team will brainstorm, collaborate, and create various service projects to bless all parts of our community such as baby showers for women’s shelters, birthday bags for food pantries, and whatever else God may put on our hearts to do!

Do you have a feel-good, extra flutter in your heart when you think about service projects? Is your mind already going a mile a minute thinking of all the service

projects we can do? If you answered “YES!”, then I would love to have you join us. If you answered “YES!” because you want to be a part of the actual service projects, but not serve as a leader, then please be on the lookout for sign-ups in the near future!

If interested in being part of the core service team, please email Women’s Ministry at women@newhanoverumc.org by February 20.

New Hanover UMC

New Hanover UMC2211 Swamp PikeGilbertsville, PA 19525

Address Service Requested

610-323-2353 - Church 610-327-9096 - Creative Moments

610-327-9207 - FaxE-mail: info@newhanoverumc.org

Web Site: www.newhanoverumc.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/

NewHanoverUMC

José “Ricky” Ayala, Pastor

Gil Vining, Pastor for Outreach

Todd Pearage, Pastor for Students& Their Families

Jake Marshall, Pastor for Worship

Rob Petro, Pastor for Congregational Care

Curt Erb, Coordinator of Human & Financial Resources

Amy Bates, KidMin Director

Heather Wallace, Director of Life Groups

Kristin Schmidt, Creative Moments Director

Ana Gallardo, Coordinator of Lay Pastor & Stephen Ministers

Liz Buckwalter, Administrative Manager, SeedSower Editor

Inclement Weather Policy

Our weather policy is as follows: If there is inclement weather (snow, ice, etc.) communication regarding the closing of the church and service cancellations can be found on the church website, Facebook, Instagram and the WFMZ 69 News website and TV station. You can also call the church office at 610-323-2353 for closing updates.

Last Call to Register for our Spiritual Growth Campaign by Heather Wallace

This year’s Spiritual Growth Campaign, 24 Hours that Changed the World, by Adam Hamilton begins the week of February 16th. Visit us in the church lobby after services to sign up for a life group and participate in this seven week Lenten study. Various life groups meet at homes located throughout our community.

Our 10:30 am service is Interpreted for the Deaf. For more information about Grace Deaf Ministries contact, Kathryn Midgley at deafmin@newhanoverumc.org

Middle School Youth Group, Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30pm (weekly)

High School Youth Group, Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30pm (weekly)

Instagram: Apex_studentminTwitter: apex_studentminFacebook: APEXstudentmin

KidMin (Sunday School):Saturday evenings at 5:00 pm

Sunday mornings at 9:00 & 10:30 am services, birth through 5th grade.

Facebook: KidMin Instagram: nhumc_kidmin