September 2018 Vol 7, No 9
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September 2018 Vol 7, No 9 From the Pastor’s Desk Rev. Kerri Hefner Look Inside “Can you tell me ourselves, we invite others into our Director of Christian Ed 2 about when I was world. born?” Director of Music 3 Scripture is God’s story, presented to us in a “Tell me how you got way we can understand. It is the story of Mission 4 started in your career.” how the world came to be ... the story of Photos 5 “How did your surgery go?” how God cared for God’s people ... the story of Jesus’ saving work ... the story of people Calendar 6 Our lives are full of stories. Often without like you and me who struggled yet received Worship Volunteers 7 thinking about it, when we relate the gift of faith. I hope that when you read information to others we weave in our Scripture you think of how you are invited Historical Notes 8 own thoughts and reflections ... and that into the story of God’s world and work. NHCCC 9 makes a story. Would you tell the story of How are you a part of God’s creation? How your life without mentioning your feelings has God cared for you in your struggles? Pansy’s Corner 9 about what happened? Surely you would How have you received the gift of faith? Birthday / Anniversary want to mention that excitement you felt 10 when you were first offered a job ... that I hope you can join us for opportunities to Youth Calendar 10 anxiety you felt before getting married or talk about stories this fall. If you can’t becoming a parent ... and how you feel come to Sunday School, come to our Announcements 11 now looking back at it all. Without those retreat the first Saturday of October! Scouts 11 personal reflections, I dare say your story would not be very interesting. Also, I hope you will pay attention to the Concerns 11 power of stories. When a friend confides Stories bring us into other worlds. When in you, or when someone tells you about a we listen to a fairy tale or read a novel, we tough hospital stay, or when someone enter an imaginary world. When we listen shares their joy with you, those are “God to others’ real-life stories, we enter their moments” of power and truth. Listen and world. When we tell a story about be thankful. Upcoming Events OCIM Food Pantry Donations (1st Sunday of Month) Sunday Sept. 2 10:00 am Pennies for Hunger Sunday Sept. 2 11:00 am Rally Day, Sunday School Kickoff & Breakfast Sunday Sept. 9 9:45 am Adult Fellowship Sunday Sept. 9 12:00 pm Youth Group Kickoff & Potluck Lunch Sunday Sept. 16 12:15 pm Organ Concert - New Hope Music Series Sunday Sept. 23 4:00 pm NHCCC Barbeque Fundraiser Saturday Sept. 29 5:00 pm Worship at Camp Sunday Sept. 30 11:00 am Director of Christian Education Mary Todd Peters Dear New Hope who helped guide you in a way Friends, that kept you on the path you Teach Us Your Ways needed to stay on to reach your From Guerillas of Grace When I was goals. by Ted Loder growing up, I was nurtured in my Kerri and I will be co leading a Teach us your ways, Lord, that we may faith journey by class that will take an in-depth be open to the same Spirit who moved my neighbors, D.A. and John study of the story of Joseph found over the face of the waters in the first day Randolph. My family belonged to in Genesis and using this story as a of creation and who moves also over the chaos of this time to fashion a day like FPC of Morganton but were more guide for reflecting on our own this, a world like ours, lives like ours, a of a Christmas and Easter stories. From the author Sarah kingdom like leaven in bread, like a attendees. John and D.A. were Heath: “We will be looking closely treasure buried in the fields of the daily regular attenders and often invited at what makes a story great and we plow; and make us aware of the mira- me to church. They would take me how you can choose to see your cles of life, of warm and cold, of stark- with them to the Wednesday night life experiences as part of a larger ness and order, of screaming wind and fellowship dinners, give me a ride narrative—the story of God. This impenetrable silences, and of the unfath- to or from church on Sunday will require deep engagement from omable mystery of amazing grace in morning. Ask me to sit with them you and a willingness to be honest which we are kept. in worship which I would take with yourself about what kind of Teach us your ways, Lord, that we may them up on unless I was sitting story you are living and seeking to praise you for all the surprising, ingen- with my youth group friends in the live.” ious ways you bless us, and for all the balcony. Because my family of wondrous gifts you give us through Other opportunities for you to origin didn’t regularly attend artists who introduce us to the beauty church, The Randolphs became my come and share about your of holiness, who usher us into awe- family of church origin. story: some worlds in which we begin to live anew in a fullness of pain and joy not Rally Day September 9 – I hope When I went off to college, the possible before. Randolph’s prayed for me. Mrs. you will join with me at 9:45 a.m. Randolph regularly wrote me for a light breakfast and an Teach us your ways, Lord, that we may letters. When I came home on intergenerational gathering as accept our own talent openly, nurture it breaks, they were some of the first we celebrate the hopefully, develop it faithfully, and return to our give it freely. people I went to visit to tell them Sunday school about my adventures. They loved program and Teach us your ways, Lord, that we may and cared about me because I was love kindness of the prophets and prac- continue to tice it toward the hungry of the world, a part of their church family. When explore God’s the poor and sick and oppressed that my mom became ill with dementia, story through our Sunday school we may learn the healing humility D.A. was one of the few friends classes. that continued to visit with her and which responsibly tends the earth and care for her as a friend and a ALL Church Retreat – God’s all creatures therein. neighbor. When my mom died, she Story Our Story will be on Teach us your ways, Lord, that we may helped organize the memorial October 6, at 9:30 a.m. We will be swept up in worship with the saints, luncheon for our family. I am the gather at Dogwood Lodge for our which surges in wonder, gratitude, and person of faith I am today due a first annual All Church Retreat to obedience, and shapes our lives into an large part of the guidance and love enjoy each other in fellowship and irrepressible YES to you, to all our of John and D.A. Randolph. sharing God’s story and our own in sisters and brothers, and to the pres- a deeper and more engaging ence of the kingdom among us until Our Story, God’s Story is experience (more information in the ancient vision of mothers burns in our theme for the Christian newsletter). uswith a fire to light the world and Educational ministry. Throughout warm its heart, through Jesus Christ, the year, we will be asking you to I look forward to another the singer of passionate songs, the reflect on your own faith journey wonderful year learning and teller of powerful stories the artist of and recall those in your life who growing in faith with you at New daring ways. Hope Presbyterian Church! helped to shape you in the faith or Amen 2 Director of Music Allen Amos We are excited to has held a similar position at host our upcoming First Presbyterian Church in Music and New Hope Greenville, NC and other Concert on Sunday, churches in NC and Richmond, September 23rd at Virginia. He attended East 4pm. Bill Wood, Carolina University, where he Director of Music/ earned the Master of Sacred Organist at First United Methodist Music degree in organ in 2005. Church in Rocky Mount, will As an undergraduate, he perform an afternoon concert on majored in piano at UNC- the Brombaugh organ. Bill will Chapel Hill and Elon perform selections by Bach, University. Pachelbel, Walcha, Langlais, and The past dean of the East others. A light reception will Carolina Chapter of the follow the performance. Please American Guild of Organists, spread the word and invite friends he has performed for a number and family! of AGO recitals and other Here is some biographical events throughout the region. In his spare time, he enjoys information on Bill: playing jazz and ragtime piano, composer in Seattle, WA; and Chris, guitarist and singer/ Bill is currently Director of Music/ hiking, and running. He and wife songwriter, who is in his fourth Organist at First United Methodist Becky Wood, a soprano singer, year of a Ph.D. program in Earth Church in Rocky Mount, NC.