+Pastor`s Corner - First United Methodist Church of Valdese

First United Methodist Church
PO Box 637
217 St. Germain Ave., SE
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 874-0006
faith@fumcvaldese.com
FIRST UNITED
METHODIST
CHURCH
9:30 am Sunday School
11:00 am Worship Celebration
The Messenger
DECEMBER
Pastor’s Corner
“A Methodist Rejoices in God”
In November we focused on “A Methodist
Loves God” using Steve Harper’s Five Marks of
a Methodist - The Fruit of a Living Faith. In this
issue we will continue our examination with the
second mark of a Methodist, “A Methodist
Rejoices in God”.
Christmas Cards
Circle #6 will be delivering Christmas Cards again this year.
The cost remains at 10 cents per card.
They will deliver to church members and members in local Nursing Homes.
Please drop your cards off from November 29th through December 13th.
December 13th is the LAST DAY for mailing your cards.
This will allow ample time to distribute them.
Thank you for your participation.

Pastor
Jeff Sweeney

Director of Music
Nancy Epley

Organist
Nancy Epley

Secretary
Connie Burton

Custodian
Tim Pons

Groundskeeper
Larry Holden
John Wesley believed that the first mark of
discipleship is “God is the joy of [a disciples]
heart.” Mr. Wesley further states in his treatise,
The Character of a Methodist, paragraph 6, “A
Methodist Rejoices evermore!” and made
rejoicing in God the second mark of a
Methodist. As we remember that the five marks
of a Methodist are:
1. A Methodist Loves God
2. A Methodist Rejoices in God
3. A Methodist Gives Thanks
4. A Methodist Prays Constantly
5. A Methodist Loves Others
Steve Harper writes, “What role does joy play in
following Christ? Simply this: discipleship is a
whole-life response to grace. We make a mistake
when we define the spiritual life only in terms of
its religious dimensions. We fail to grasp what
God is offering us when we limit it to the
cognitive element. Joy is the word used by
Christians in every age to describe the
comprehensive response we make out of our
whole being to God’s love. And from that
simple word joy, [Wesley] moved on to further
define it.”
Wesley began his thought with happiness, but
not the fleeting or superficial emotion that only
occurs when we are getting our way. No, Wesley
pointed to the classical thought which
understood happiness in terms of the Greek
concept of eudaemonism. Don’t let that word
stop you in your tracks—that is why Wesley
quickly moved to the term joy.
2015
“Don’t be sad, because the joy from
The Lord is your strength”—Nehemiah
8:10.
“Happy are people who have pure
hearts, because they will see God….Be
full of joy and be glad, because you
have a great reward in heaven.”—
Matthew 5:8, 12.
In Classic thought “happiness” is a deeply ethical
word that means the harvest of a life given over to
righteousness.
That points to a deeper bond of relational love
where by being loved by God and loving God in
return produces a quality of life that can only be
found in a deep relationship with God that gives
birth to happiness as a life of virtue and goodness.
Thus, as E. Stanley Jones states, “Joy is a byproduct of love.”
John and his brother Charles, challenged each
other and supported each other—John with faith,
hope and order (discipline), and Charles with
music, song and love. So, I close with the Charles
Wesley Hymn “Rejoice, the Lord Is King:”
Rejoice, the Lord is King! Your Lord and King
adore: mortals, give thanks and sing, and triumph
evermore. Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
rejoice; again I say, rejoice!
Joy is the mark of discipleship that gives us hope,
courage and confidence. May your days be filled
with joy, may your heart leap with joy, and may
you rejoice in the Lord throughout the Advent and
Christmas season and evermore! Rejoice in the
Lord always, for our Lord, Christ is King!
And, A Merry and Joyous Christmas to all!
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Jeff
Gifts for Christ
Food Focus Ministry
for DECEMBER is
PASTA
(The Food Focus Ministry is for the
Waldensian Presbyterian Church as
part of our local unified ministries.)
Thank you!
The focus for
DECEMBER is
HYGIENE ITEMS…...Toothbrushes,
toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic
bag), comb, washcloth, etc.
Please place items in the plastic bins
located in the Narthex and the Fellowship
Hall.
REMINDER
Every third Sunday of the
Month Is
Please consider volunteering for the
Wednesday night fellowship meals.
“Change the World Offering”
Sunday
If interested, please contact Laura Kelly
@ 448-4077. Thank You!
Bring your gifts to the Rail
November 29th - December 27th
MUSIC NOTES
HATS &
SCARFS
When the beginning of school arrives each year, Christmas seems such a
long way off! Then we turn around and there it is - right around the corner!
Our handbell ringers have been working hard to provide music for us this
fall and Christmas. We will present "Twinkle, the Bethlehem Star" on Dec.
13 during the morning worship, featuring our handbells and Kelsey Price as
Twinkle. These stories are fun to put together but require great precision
on the part of the ringers and they have done a great job!
Nancy Epley
I grew up in a Christian home. My Father was Chairman of the Religion Department at Mars Hill College for
40+ years and my Mother was a homemaker. There was always music in our home and the love of Jesus
shining through. I began piano lessons at the age of four and violin at the age of seven, and attended
Transylvania Music Camp (now Brevard Music Center) on violin scholarships at the age of eleven and
sixteen.
Having grown up in Mars Hill, NC, I attended Mars Hill College and graduated with a performance degree
in Piano and Violin. After graduation, I pursued my Masters at Indiana University and UNC Greensboro.
Jim and I were married on October 26, 1990. I have two children ..daughter Bonnie Wilson and son Ted
(wife Jamie) Wilson; two step-children (Amy Crump and David Epley); one grandchild (Will Wilson) age
18.
2015 marks my 14th year at FUMC-Valdese. I began in 2001 as the organist and hand bell director. Am now
Music Director for the church. I have taught piano and violin lessons in my home for the past 10+ years and
currently have 18 students.
I have played the organ at three different churches in the area – six years at First Baptist of Valdese, nineyears
at North Morganton UMC in Morganton and the last fourteen years at FUMC Valdese. Although I have
enjoyed all of my years in church music, the time at Valdese was somehow different from the beginning. At
this church – my church – I am a member first and an organist – staff member – second. That feeling has
permeated my years here and should I no longer be directing and playing, I would remain a member of this
congregation.
I have experienced the love of Jesus Christ through this congregation during many trials and tribulations but
most especially and recently, at the death of my husband, Jim on November 18, 2013. I came to know the
true feeling of the presence of God and the feeling of being enveloped in love by this congregation. I cannot
imagine ever being anywhere else.
The adult choir hit a bump when Virginia Riddle discovered he has a
fractured hip and has been unable to play for us for the last couple of
months. We miss her and wish her a speedy recovery and know that you
are all praying for her too. We have had to regroup on our cantata and that
is not a bad thing. We have a total of 16 people singing in the cantata this
year along with 2 narrators and John Hogan supplying our audio. With so
many wonderful committed people involved, I know it will be a real success
as we lend our voices and our talents to the glory of God.
This year's cantata will be presented on Dec. 20 at 4:00pm in the afternoon,
followed by a reception in our fellowship hall. We will feature the handbell
choir as well as our chancel choir and soloists so please put us on your
calendar now and invite your family, friends and neighbors. I believe it will
be a worthwhile afternoon.
Circle #2 is
collecting Hats and Scarfs
for
local Cancer Patients. Please see Pat
If you would like to place flowers in the
sanctuary for a special event, in memory of a
loved one, etc. please call the church office to
schedule a date. Thank You!
( Individual Circles are responsible
for sanctuary alter flowers.)
HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY
Bert Seagle
December 14, 2015
Merry Christmas!
Nancy
Please join us as we
BEHOLD THE GLORY
of the birth of our Savior through music!
First United Methodist Church—Valdese
Sunday, December 20, 2015
4:00 pm
Please help us continue this glorious celebration by
remaining for a reception in our Fellowship Hall
immediately following the Cantata.
Opportunities to Serve God in This
Congregation
Please prayerfully consider participating in any
of the following Sunday morning activities.
Either contact Pastor Jeff or call the church
office, if interested.
Opening Prayer
Scripture Reading
Children’s Church
Serving Communion