JUNE 14, 2020

OUR PRAYER CONCERNS AND CELEBRATIONS

Please pray for: All serving in the military; Michael Bereman; Benjamin Webb; Charlotte Reynolds and family; Dana Hall’s mother; David Kelder; Gresham Yeager; Howard and Anna Surface’s daughter-in-law; Rhonda and Ray Oliver’s niece; Ron and Patty Brown’s daughter; Chip and Karen Moore’s son; Jim Dukeman’s brother; Rod Dolen. Confidential prayer requests can be made online.

Congratulations to our high school and college graduates! We are pleased to be able recognize you in worship today.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Regathering Team (Apex UMC Family): As our state has shifted into Phase 2 of the Reopening Plan, a team of eight lay leaders from across our church family were invited to work with our pastoral team to help our congregations and church leadership consider when and how we would begin to regather for in-person, face-to-face worship. This team will meet weekly for the next several weeks and share their recommendations with the Parish Council in late June. We appreciate your prayers for this team and for our entire church during these uncertain times. If you have specific questions, you can reach out to your local campus pastor or email [email protected]. You can also find out more about our current model for phased reopening on our website.

Book Study - White Fragility: We are hopeful this study will be a good step towards learning together the impact of racism in our nation as we engage in constructive and meaningful conversation around this topic. We will read and discuss the book White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. Join Corey Vevera virtually on Wednesday, beginning June 17, at 7:30 p.m. as he leads us through this 12-week study. Register online.

Book Study - How to be an Antiracist: This summer, all campuses within the Apex UMC Family are invited to join the 519 Book Club in reading the very timely book by Ibram X. Kendi, How to be an Antiracist. This discussion is open to all campuses with opportunities for break out discussion with pastors and leaders from your campus. Pastor Laura will be in attendance. We will meet every other Tuesday beginning June 16 (ending July 28), on Zoom from 7-8 p.m. You can order the book online at Amazon or on Bookshop. Register online for the class.

Charge Conference: Join us Monday, June 15, at 7 p.m. for a virtual Charge Conference. During this mid-year business gathering we will share in evening prayer and celebrate the ways God is moving in the Apex UMC Family and in our communities during COVID19. Charge Conference members will vote on the appointment of Amanda Rigby to The Peak, hear an update from the Regathering Task Force, and receive information on the 2020-2021 budget. All are welcome. To join, go to tinyurl.com/charge-conference. You may also join by phone by calling 1-866-432-9903 and entering the meeting access code: 200 894 016.

You Can Still Register for Virtual VBS: Our Virtual VBS kit is designed so that YOU will WIN by teaching your child about faith while having fun at the same time. Kits are designed for Preschool (ages 3- 5) or Elementary (K-5) and include lesson directions, access to the Bible Story videos, craft and game supplies, and more (t-shirts are no longer available). You must register online to reserve your kit, which will be distributed near the end of June. Questions? Contact Norma Wallace.

55+ Adults: You should have received a survey in the mail this week. The intent of this survey is to develop a ministry program that meets a diversity of needs within this demographic. The survey should be completed by each adult, 55 and older (not couples or households), and should be returned no later than June 15, in the pre-addressed envelope provided. If you have not received a survey (by June 7), please email Alta Whitt with your name and address. The survey is also available online.

Are you the parent of a student who will be in 6th grade in the 2020/2021 school year? Know someone who is? We want to welcome our rising 6th graders well and let them know how excited we are for them to join the youth program! Please help us by filling out this form, or letting friends know about it, so that we can deliver a welcome kit when the stay at home orders are lifted.

Memorial Garden Update: AUMC is within approximately 40 niches of being able to begin construction on the first wall of our columbarium, which will hold 150 niches and a memorial wall! To encourage your pre-construction commitment and make the columbarium a reality, the Committee has approved continuing the initial $2,800 price through 2020! Make your $500 deposit now and complete payment by Dec. 31, 2020. To receive a contract, contact sales team head Jim Ahler or Pastor Ellen Rose or call the church office and follow the prompts to leave a voice message for Pastor Ellen. A contract is also available for you to add a loved-one's name to the memorial wall ($500); contact Pastor Ellen with questions.

Western Wake Crisis Ministry Needs: canned meat (tuna/chicken), Chef Boyardee, pasta and pasta sauce, peanut butter, canned fruit (other than applesauce), side items (instant potatoes, dressing, etc.), canned veggies (other than corn/green beans). Please place items in the marked bin in the Crossroads circle. Donations are collected daily. You can also visit WWCM's website to make a financial donation.

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES

Nickolas John Bartle, son of Alivia Bassett, daughter of John and Bronwyn Bartle, is Jason and Kim Bassett, is graduating from Green Hope graduating from Apex Friendship High School and plans to High School and plans to attend attend the University of North Carolina State University. Alabama to study architectural engineering.

Mary Elisabeth Beam, Aidan Jeffrey Bulkin, son of daughter of Chris and Heather Ken and Libby Bulkin, is Beam, is graduating from Apex graduating from Apex High High School and plans to School and plans to attend attend Appalachian State Appalachian State University. University to study psychology.

Jackson Kelly Bulkin, son of Harrison Burlew, son of Ken and Libby Bulkin, is Christy and Chad Holliday, is graduating from Apex High graduating from Wake Christian School and plans to attend Academy and plans to attend Methodist University. Appalachian State University to study business and finance.

Emma Chapman, daughter of Abigail Bright Clark, daughter Amy and Eric Chapman, is of Mary Lou and Tracey Clark, is graduating from Apex graduating from Apex High Friendship High School and School and plans to attend plans to attend North Carolina Appalachian State University to State University. study psychology.

Krista Coley, daughter of Maddie Deane, daughter of Greg and Kelli Coley, is Winston and Amy Deane, is graduating from Apex High graduating from Apex Friendship School and plans to attend High School and plans to attend North Carolina State University East Carolina University. to study business administration.

Jack A. Deaton, son of Dan Christopher Fields, son of and Gretchen Deaton, is Jenny and Warren Fields, is graduating from Apex graduating from Apex Friendship Friendship High School and High School and plans to attend plans to attend the University North Carolina State to study of North Carolina at Chapel computer science. Hill.

Jack Spencer Gentry, son of Mary Helen Gillespie, Dudley and Kimberly Gentry, is daughter of Allison and Jamie graduating from Apex Gillespie, is graduating from Friendship High School and Apex Friendship High School and plans to attend the University plans to attend North Carolina of North Carolina at Chapel Hill State University. and plans to study English and creative writing.

Gabriella Layne Gonzales, Owen Halbleib, son of Jennifer daughter of Rachel Gonzales and Cale Halbleib, is graduating and Keith Bowden, is from and graduating from Apex plans to attend Appalachian Friendship High School and State University to study history plans to attend the University education. of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Grey Hanburger, son of Chris Joshua Haughton, son of Chris and Tracey Hanburger, is and Debbie Haughton, is graduating from Apex High graduating from Apex Friendship School and plans to attend High School and plans to attend East Carolina University. North Carolina State University.

Timothy Haughton, son of Rachel Heinzerling, daughter Chris and Debbie Haughton, is of Brett and Susan Heinzerling, graduating from Apex is graduating from Apex Friendship High School and Friendship High School and plans to attend the University plans to attend North Carolina of North Carolina at Charlotte State University to study where he will run Division 1 engineering. cross country and track.

Peyton Mae Inman, daughter Lindsey Kilpatrick, daughter of of Jeff and Melissa Inman, is Kim and Rick Kilpatrick, is graduating from Apex graduating from Apex High Friendship High School and School and plans to attend the plans to attend the University University of North Carolina at of Georgia to study business Chapel Hill. marketing.

Lauren Langston, daughter Olivia LaRusso, daughter of of Mike and Jessica Langston Melanie and Larry LaRusso, is and Keith and Kimberly Wood, graduating from Apex High is graduating from Apex School and plans to attend North Friendship High School and Carolina State University to plans to attend Virginia Tech. study elementary education.

Lauren Layton, daughter of Christian Taylor Nightingale, Ron and Kim Layton, is daughter of Trevor and Shawn graduating from Apex High Nightingale, is graduating from School and plans to attend Apex Friendship High School and West Virginia University to plans to attend the University of study nursing. North Carolina at Chapel Hill to study biomedical engineering.

Jake Pio, son of John and Elyse Gordon Schechter, Suzanne Pio, is graduating daughter of Jacqueline and Drew from Apex Friendship High Schechter, is graduating from School and plans to attend Apex High School and plans to Cape Fear Community College. attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to study molecular biology.

Cooper Sykes, son of John Aaron Thomas, son of Leena and Ann Sykes, is graduating and Thomas Philip, is graduating from Athens Drive Magnet High from Apex High School and School and plans to join the plans to attend North Carolina Wells Scholars Program at State University, College of Indiana University to study Engineering. environmental and sustainability studies.

Haley Turner, daughter of Sydney Turner, daughter of Stephanie and Bryan Turner, is June Caummisar and John graduating from Apex Turner, is graduating from Apex Friendship High School and Friendship High School and plans to attend the University plans to attend the University of of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kentucky. to study nursing.

Alexandra Vallieu, daughter Carter Alan Wade, son of of Brian and Mary Vallieu, is Deborah and Craig Wade, is graduating from Apex graduating from Apex High Friendship High School and School and plans to attend Wake plans to attend the University Technical Community College. of North Carolina at Pembroke to study nursing.

Lance Monroe Weller, son of Hannah Weschler, daughter of Eric and Courtney Weller, is Matt and Mindy Weschler, is graduating from Apex graduating from Apex Friendship Friendship High School and High School and plans to attend plans to attend Virginia Tech, North Carolina State University, Pamplin School of Business. Poole College of Management.

Avery Grace Wilkins, daughter of Charles and Mandy Wilkins, is graduating from Apex Friendship High School and plans to attend the University of North Carolina at Wilmington to study nursing.

COLLEGE GRADUATES

Lawson Benfield, son of Mark and Kimberly Benfield, graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Risk Management and Insurance and Finance and Banking. He is working with Beazley in Atlanta, Ga.

Elisabeth West Bulkin, daughter of Ken and Libby Bulkin, graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Bachelor of Arts in Middle Grades Education. She is teaching 7th grade English at CC Griffin Middle School in Concord, NC.

Kevin Connell, son of Mick and Diane Connell, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and will pursue a master’s degree in Cybersecurity at UNC Charlotte.

Jordan Elizabeth Dean, daughter of Proctor and Amy Dean, obtained her master’s degree in Business Administration from . She graduated from North Carolina State University in 2017 and has been employed with Personify in Raleigh since that time.

Savannah Dupree, daughter of Wendy and Scott Dupree, graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies and minors in Spanish and History. She is waiting for the country to reopen to resume her job search.

Sarah Ford, daughter of Tim and Christy Ford, graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy and plans to pursue a career in education.

Zoe Gasell, daughter of Matt and Lauri Gasell, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation, Sports Leadership and Tourism Management from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She is actively searching for a job in intercollegiate athletics, focusing in either sports marketing or development, hopefully at the Division I level. Zoe plans to attend graduate school in the future to continue being a life- long learner.

Annie L. Harding, daughter of Wallace and Millie Harding, obtained her Master of Accounting from North Carolina State University. She will start at Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP, public accounting firm in October as an Assurance Associate in their Raleigh office. This summer, she is studying to pass all four parts of the CPA exam.

Lizzy McDaniel, daughter of Alice (and Stanley) McDaniel, graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Arts in in Elementary Education. She plans to return to NCSU graduate school in the fall to earn a master’s degree in special education.

Dalton Phillips, son of Pam and Rick Phillips, graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Health Care Management and plans to work in the healthcare system.

Benjamin Pittman, son of Eugene and Carolyn Pittman, graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing and is presently seeking employment.

Lexi Schafran, daughter of Annie and Derek Schafran, graduated Summa Cum Laude from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She is a kindergarten teacher at Salem Elementary School.

Alexandra Stanford, daughter of Michael and Allison Carter graduated from Wellesley College with a degree in Neuroscience. She is taking a few post-baccalaureate science classes at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in preparation for the MCAT and medical school.