The Cokesbury

Connection

January 2013 CokesburyCokesbury United Methodist ChurchUnited Methodist Church

Upcoming Events

& Activities

TWO NEW BIBLE STUDIES

BEGIN THIS MONTH! THEY

ARE OPEN TO ALL.

Beginning January 7 at 7:00 pm,

in the Library, Pastor Megan will

lead a “topical” Bible Study.

Beginning January 9 at 11:00

pm, in the Library, Pastor Megan

will lead a morning Bible Study.

Other events of interest for this

month:

Soup Dinner, sponsored by our

Youth, on Sunday, January 6,

after worship service. This is a

fund raiser for their Ski Trip.

Two of Cokesbury’s long time

members will turn 90 years

young this month.

You are all invited to celebrate Jo

Warren’s birthday from 2-5 pm

on Sunday, January 13, in the

Fellowship Hall. Please RSVP if

you plan to attend.

Ruby Mangum and family have

invited everyone to celebrate her

90th birthday with a cake in the

narthex after worship service on

Sunday, January 20.

We wish them both many more

birthdays.

Emmaus will host a District

Gathering at Cokesbury on Fri-

day, January 18, at 7:30 pm and

all are invited to see what Em-

maus is all about.

Pastor’s Page

In Luke 6 Jesus talks to his disciples about what it means to behave as God’s

children. He speaks of outlandish things like loving your enemies and doing good

to those who hate you, lending money without expecting to get it back, being as

compassionate as God is, not being judgmental, and forgiving others. But he ends

with this, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good portion—packed down, firmly

shaken, and overflowing—will fall into your lap. The portion you give will deter-

mine the portion you receive in return.” (Luke 6:38)

Generosity was important to Jesus. He believed that being generous, giving of

yourself and your “stuff”, was something that God’s children do. They do this in

response to a God who was poured out for them. They do this as a faithful response

for God’s love toward them.

This Christmas season, it was incredible to see the generosity of the people of

Cokesbury UMC at work. This church did incredible things for so many people.

Families in our neighborhood were able to place presents under their Christmas

trees because of your generosity. Children will be riding bikes this year because of

your generosity. Families separated by prison walls were reconnected because of

your generosity. And so much more!

I celebrate and am so thankful for each and every gift that you have given to me and

my family and to so many other people throughout the Christmas season. But more

than that I celebrate and am thankful for the GIVING! The outpouring of love that

has been displayed through your generosity has been overwhelming. The faithful

response you have made to God’s love toward us and the world is incredible.

This makes me so very excited to begin a new year with you. Jesus said that when

people gave a good portion would fall back into their lap. And so I claim that

promise for us as a church! What amazing things will be in store for us in this

coming year? How will God increase our ministry because of our generosity?

As the song goes, “They will know we are Christians by our love.” With the power

of the Holy Spirit to propel us forward may our community and world continue to

know that we are followers of Jesus Christ because of our love…not just spoken…

but displayed through our generosity.

Peace,

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS

3 Michael Cantrell 3 Dennis Every 3 Russ Hutchison 4 Beth Easterling 5 Julie Brunson 5 Carrie Jacobs 6 Teresa Boggs 6 Lottie Mellette 7 Debbie Byers 7 Barbara Malaney 8 Mark Bishop 8 Jonathan Blackwell 9 Shelby Bishop 10 Madison Peek 11 Natilye Bunch 11 Pat Patterson 11 Janet Tanner 11 Emily Weaver 12 Jacob Long

12 Adam Ward 13 Priscilla Ashworth 13 Anna B. Goodyear 13 Brenda Randolph 13 Brooke Scott 14 Stephanie Harrelson 14 Terri Keller 14 Beverly Locklair 14 Sara Looney 14 Jo Warren (90th) 15 Miriam Graham 15 Morgan Warner 16 Angie Bunch 16 Daniel Bunch 16 Steve Harrelson 17 Katie Ashworth 18 Michelle Fulmer 19 James Bridges 19 Debbie Keller 19 Shirley Trainor 22 Cathy Franks

22 DeWayne Jolly 23 David Grimsley 23 Tiffany VanMaanen 24 Pauline Dupree 24 Kylie Llewellyn 24 Ruby Mangum (90th) 26 Kelly Williams 27 Karen Conyers 27 Al Graham 27 Gordon Jones 28 Regina Ivey 29 Travis Bunch 29 Dana Price 29 Shannon Weaver 30 Charles Jessup 30 Braeden Steveson 30 Jacob Thomas Stewart 30 Susan Harris Welborn

JANUARY ANNIVERSARIES

5 Milton & Keys Hamilton 18 Cecil & Roxann Barwick 19 Clay & Emily Jackson 20 Rob & Kristen Looney 31 Randy & Heather Fulmer

If your birthday or your

anniversary is not listed or is

incorrect please let the church

office know so we can make

the proper corrections.

Sunday Morning Schedule 9:30 a.m. Sunday School

10:30 a.m. Combined Worship

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Happy

New Year! Church office is closed

2 10:00 am Folders 11:00 am Bible Study 6:30 pm Choir

3 6:30 pm

Weight Watchers

4

5

6 7 3:30 pm Twin Oaks

7:00 pm AA & Al Alon 7:00 pm Bible Study

8 1:00 pm Emmaus 5:00 pm Camellia Gar

9 9:am Petal Pushers

6:30 pm Choir 7:00 am Bible Study

10 6:30 pm

Weight Watchers

11

12

13 Church Council 5 pm

14 7:00 pm AA & Al Alon 7:00 pm Bible Study

15 1:00 pm Emmaus 7:00 pm UMW

16 6:30 pm Choir 7:00 am Bible Study

17 6:30 pm

Weight Watchers

18 7:30 pm

Emmaus Gathering

19

9am Food Pantry

20 .

21 7:00 pm AA & Al Alon 7:00 pm Bible Study

22 1:00 pm Emmaus

23 6:30 pm Choir 7:00 am Bible Study

24 6:30 pm

Weight Watchers

25 UMW Dist.

Exec. Bd. Mtg.

26 UMW Dist. Mtg. (all day)

27

28 7:00 pm AA & Al Alon 7:00 pm Bible Study

29 1:00 pm Emmaus

30 10:00 am Folders

6:30 pm Choir 7:00 am Bible Study

31 6:30 pm

Weight Watchers

JANUARY 2013

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES FOR THIS MONTH

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN JANUARY

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN NEWS

The UMW will hold their monthly meeting on Tuesday, Janu-ary 15, at 7:00 pm. This will be their installation of officers for the year 2013. The District UMW President Eartha Goodwin will in-stall the new Cokesbury UMW officers.

EMMAUS MONTHLY GATHERING

This month’s Emmaus Gathering will be held here at Cokes-bury United Methodist Church on Friday, January 18, at 7:30 pm.

TWIN OAKS SING-A-LONG

Every second Monday of the month, at 3:30 pm, a group of our Cokesbury members gathers at Twin Oaks Retirement Home to lead a Sing-a-Long for the Twin Oaks residents. This monthly outreach ministry would be delighted to add new voices to their group. No prior experience required. Call Mac Ham for more details.

FOOD PANTRY

Our monthly Food Pantry is held every third Saturday of the month at 9:00 am. If you are aware of anyone in the 29405 or 20418 zipcode who needs food assistance please tell them about our monthly Food Pantry.

Every fourth Sunday of each month Romayne Eaddy, our hat lady, will collect a special offering after worship service to replen-ish our monthly food pantry. Please remember those in need.

Our Church Library

Come and enjoy your Cokesbury Library on Sunday morn-ings or during regular church office hours (Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m.– 3:30 p.m.). The library is located in the Education Building across from the Women’s Restroom and next to the Pastor’s office. The library has a wonderful variety of Christian books and DVDs for your entire family, including sections devoted to Children, Youth, Fiction, Christian Living, Christian Growth, Reference, etc. To see a list of the books currently in the library, please visit our o n l i n e c a t a l o g a t

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/Cokesbury.

The library now operates on a SELF-SERVE basis. Please check your books out (4 weeks for books and 2 weeks for DVDs) using the check out box by the win-dow. When you return your items, please retrieve your card from the check out box and put the material back on the appropriate shelf. There will no longer be a ‘Book Return’ basket. We also currently have several books and movies that are OVER-DUE. Please remember to RETURN or RENEW your books or DVDs so others may also enjoy them.If you would like to donate gently used CHRISTIAN books or DVDs

to the library, please drop them off in the ‘Donation’ basket in the library.

The library only accepts Christian material and can no longer accept cassette tapes or VHS tapes. If you would like to make a monetary donation, please make your check payable to Cokesbury UMC, mark “library” in the memo line, and drop it in the offering plate. All gifts are very much appreciated!

WE STILL NEED SOAP!

Thanks to all of you who have given soap to this on going ministry. Each month Cokesbury UMC furnishes 50 to 60 bars of soap to the community supported Shalom Minis-tries. You may also chose to give money toward the soap ministry. For more information on this important outreach ask Marian Gentry.

Notes from the Music Ministries.

Hallelujah! It’s a good thing to sing praise to our God; praise is beau-tiful, praise is fitting. Ps. 147:1 Let the word of Christ--the Message--have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing our hearts out to God! Col. 3:16 With a grateful heart, wishing my Cokesbury family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Eszter

Contact Eszter with your questions or your comments at eablonczy@hotmail.com, or call the church office or my cell phone: (843)513-6443. Thank you.

Be a Literacy Volunteer in 2013

Charleston County has partnered with Reading Partners, a national literacy non profit to help children in eight Title 1 elementary schools in the county to improve their reading skills. Nearby Burns Elementary School is one of those schools and they have asked for volunteers from Cokesbury.

They are looking for community volunteers to work one-to-one with elementary students reading below grade level, using a structured curriculum.

Tutors should be able to come in one day a week for 45 minutes.

Your benefits as a volunteer will be: inspiring a student about reading and learning, significantly increase a child’s rate of learning.

If you are interested or have questions contact Pastor Megan.

Cokesbury is now saving the tabs from soft drink cans for the Ronald McDonald House. You may leave them in the Missions Room in the back of the Education Building.

Thank Yous to Cokesbury

Thank you for the cards and prayers for our family.

Everyone at the church has been so kind and helpful Thank

you, Mike and Edie Miller and Family

Thank you to everyone at Cokesbury for all the cards and

prayers for me during my recent surgery and time of re-

covery. Blessings and best wishes to you all in 2013.

Aloma Ostendorff

Many thanks to all of you in the Cokesbury family who

dropped by the office with goodies and presents during the

Christmas season. You are a special group of folks and I

appreciate you all. Thanks again. Lyn.

Bernie Williams is now home from the hospital and is

recovering. He and Nancy wish to thank everyone at

Cokesbury for the awesome loving concern they have

shown during Bernie’s illness. And to wish everyone a

YAH YAHS LUNCHEON

Start your year “out” right!

Come out to lunch with the Yah Yahs on Wednesday, January 9, at noon, in the Family Life Center. This will be a covered dish, so bring your covered dish or dessert and enjoy the great fellowship with your church family.

The Children’s Department needs cereal boxes!

Now through April 2013 we will be collecting cereal boxes for

our June 2012 VBS. These boxes will be painted and used to

make a huge “stone” wall. You can open the ends and flatten

them out to make storage easier. Drop them off in the old sanc-

tuary or the mission room located across from the game room at

the end of the education hallway. Thank you for your help!

JANUARY MONTHLY MISSION FOR 2013

Each month of the year Cokesbury’s monthly mission project

supports a different charitable organization. On Sunday mornings

you may place your donations into the mission box located outside

of the sanctuary between the double doors.

For January our mission project is the Charleston Animal Society

whose goal is to promote responsible guardianship of domestic

animals and advocate the compassionate treatment of all animals.

They also promote temporary sanctuary to lost, abandoned or abused domestic animals; promote adoption,;

provide medical care to indigent pets; eliminate overpopulation of animals with aggressive spay/neuter and educa-

tion programs; provide education about responsible pet guardianship; reunite lost pets and their owners; and reduce

cruelty through stronger ordinances, investigations, partnerships and education.

CHARLESTON ANIMAL SOCIETY WISH LIST

Cat Litter

Peanut Butter

Bath Towels

Pet Shampoo

Exotic Animal Food (for guinea pigs, rabbits, ferrets, and birds)

Washable Toys

Small blankets for cats

Electric Heating Pads/Blankets

13 Gallon Trash Bags

Large alcohol based hand sanitizer

Large hand soap

Black Sharpies

Cardstock

Copy Paper

Paper Towels

Gift Cards (Walmart, Petsmart. Petco, etc.)

and

Cash Gifts are always gratefully accepted. (Make checks payable to Charleston Animal Society.

Your donation to them is tax-deductible.)

2013 Salkehatchie Summer Service Application Forms have

arrived at the church office. If you did not receive one at

home and wish to attend one of their many summer

camps please call the church office for a copy.

The form and full payment of $215.00 must be received at

the conference office by April 1, 2003.

Who can go?

Youth who are 14 years old by the starting date of their cho-

sen camp or those 18 and above (All those 18 and above

must have a background check. Most of our adult members

who have attended have a background check on record.)

The Santee Camp that Rev. Joe Long serves as the director

of will be held from July 13 - July 20 this year. His camp

fills up quickly so be sure you have your application in early.

Cokesbury

The MYF “coat” drive will be extended through Sun-

day, January 13. The youth are collecting clean, gently

used coats for those in need. Check your closet for coats

or jackets you no longer wear.

The MYF will sponsor a fundraiser soup dinner after

worship service on Sunday, January 6. This will help to

fund their annual Ski Trip.

Our Youth will leave for their annual Ski Trip on Janu-

ary 18 and return on January 21. Please keep them in your

prayers as they travel and while they are on the slopes.

With Deepest Sympathy

Cokesbury extends our deepest sympathy to Johnny Cribb and his family at the recent loss of his father.

HOME BOUND COMMUNION

Home Bound Ministries would be pleased to serve communion to anyone who is homebound. If you are home bound (or know someone who is) and would like to receive communion from Cokesbury please contact Sue Shipman at 552-7239.

The Adult Discussion Class celebrated Christmas with a dinner party at Red Lobster. Pastor Megan and her children were their guests and everyone had a wonderful time

Start off your New Year right with a new Bible Study or two!

Pastor Megan will offer two Bible Studies to chose from beginning this month.

Beginning on January 7, she will lead a “topical” Bible Study on Monday evenings at 7:00 pm.

Beginning on Wednesday, January 9, at 11:00 am she will lead another Bible Study Group.

Both Bible studies are open to anyone who would like to come.

Majoria "Jo" Warren turns 90!!

The entire Cokesbury community is invited to

join Jimmie Warren and Belinda Warren Finn

and their families to celebrate this amazing

milestone on

Sunday, January 13, 2013

2:00-5:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall

Please RSVP to either

jw818688@bellsouth.net or belinda@finn.com

Still another 90th Birthday to celebrate!

Ruby Mangum will celebrate her 90th birthday on January 24, and she wants to celebrate with her

Cokesbury family on Sunday, January 20, after our worship service. Her family has invited everyone to celebrate her birthday with them here at Cokesbury.

There will be a birthday cake for her in the narthex,

so please stay and have a time of fellowship with Miss

Ruby and wish her many more birthdays.

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. Postage PAID CHARLESTON, SC

PERMIT#459 4990 Dorchester Road North Charleston, South Carolina 29418

Phone: 843-552-4061 Fax: 843-552-4063 Email: cokesburysecretary@comcast.net Website: www.cokesburyumc.com

Cokesbury Staff Megan Gray, Pastor mlgray@umcsc.org Eszter Ablonczy, Music Director eablonczy@hotmail.com Pam Coleman, Children’s Ministry Dir. colemanps@comcast.net Miriam Graham, Youth Director brettfan4@aol.com Leigh Ann Sayer, Youth Director leighannsayer@gmail.com Lyn Bridges, Secretary cokesburysecretary@comcast.net Tommy Myers, Sexton

STAY CONNECTED WITH COKESBURY!

If you would like to receive periodic emails containing prayer requests and general information of events at Cokesbury, ask to be added to the church email group. Send an email to Cokesbury.Family.Friends@gmail.com or call the church office at 552-4061. If you are not on our mailing list to receive our monthly newsletters please call the office to receive a copy each month. The monthly newsletter is also posted on our website. Also, if you are not on our birthday or anniversary list please call the church office so you can be added to our lists.