Loving God - Loving Everyone - Following APRIL 2017— THE CIRCUIT RIDER

EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE April 16 7:30 am in the Prayer Garden Followed by Breakfast in the Pugh Outreach Center Provided by the UMM - Everyone is invited

WOMEN’S RETREAT Saturday, May 6th A Day of Sharing- Renewal in the Mountains 8:30 am -3:30 pm Forget the Laundry! Leave the Dishes in the Sink! Join in a Day of Sharing, Connecting, and Renewing our Spirits

Everyone is invited! Please share with your neighbors and friends. Pick up some brochures and pass them around TODAY! REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS APRIL 15TH

Our Guest Speaker for the day is Haven Parrott. Haven is Select the sessions you are most interested in attending. a grief coordinator with Transitions LifeCare of Wake There are 11 great sessions from which you may make County. She will bring a special message on the relation- your selections. ships of women and share a monologue of Gomer from the Bible. We are excited to hear her message for us. Special music will be brought to us by Alan Sears, Nancy Jones, and Devin & Jill DeBord. Special Breakout Sessions are planned. Lunch will be provided for everyone and is included in Financial Strategies (Three levels) your registration. Keeping up With Life Can Bring You Down Child Care is provided for children ages 6 months to 10 Creating a Rule of Life years. Please include this need on your registration. Creating the Love You Want Cost is $15.00 for the day. Financial assistance is availa- The “One Another” Passages from The New Testament ble. If needed, please call one of the numbers listed on the Listen to the Wisdom of Dreams registration forms. Parenting Young Children – Redirecting Behaviors REGISTRATIONS FORMS ARE AVAILABLE in the Parenting Adolescents Narthex and outside the office of the church and at vari- End of Life Caring ous locations in Sparta.

1 The Glory of God those 40 days were extremely for . Today is human being. We see the glo- important. Some scholars be- known as a time to turn our ry of God in the fully alive By Pratt Davis lieve that, in the first centuries hearts and minds toward God human person of Jesus. And Those of us who love spring of the beginnings of Christiani- by prayer, fasting, giving alms. we see the glory of the flesh- are feeling happier as the grass ty, people who were seeking to Giving up something for Lent and-blood human being we is turning green, a few tiny become Christian spent several is ultimately a form of fasting. simply are and are called to years in study and preparation. be.” buds are showing on trees, and Whichever way we look at Because of the threat of Ro- flowers will not be far behind. Lent, this season holds a mes- Jesus walked this human-divine man persecution, becoming a It was a thoughtful choice to sage for us about the very na- path through self-emptying. Christian was serious business. use the word Lent for the litur- ture of human beings. Lent That is, he moved from orient- After this long time of prepara- gical season that occurs in the reminds us that, in our inner- ing his life around his own tion, there was a final time of spring of the year in the North- most being, we carry an image point of view to orienting his purification and enlightenment ern hemisphere. Lent is an of that which is divine. Lent is life around God’s point of that occurred during the 40 abbreviation of the Old English about being human and divine. view. This orientation is a very days before Easter when their Lencten which meant spring. Although we are made of mat- different thing than saying baptism took place. Later the While we watch the outer ter, we are called to participate “This or That is God’s Will,” Church began to observe the world bursting forth into light in the mystery of Divine Incar- when This or That is simply season of Lent to show support and warmth and new life after nation. what I believe or opine. Self- the dark, cold, and dormancy and solidarity with the newest emptying means I stop labeling of winter, the time of Lent asks . It became a time James Finley, former Trappist and thinking that I know; I re- us to look within ourselves for for all Christians to renew the Monk, teacher and author in- main open to become empty of an inner, soul space where new commitment of their baptism. cluding Christian Meditation: my self-interest. Self- Experiencing the Presence of life is called forth from what- Whether that idea is true or emptying is at the heart of eve- God, (contemplativeway.org) ever dark space we may have not, Lent is one of the oldest ry religion although it may be says, “Reading the Gospels, we been experiencing in our spir- observations on the Christian called by many different names. get the impression that Jesus itual or psychological lives. calendar. Like all Christian Self-emptying means that, ulti- was fully human from the Special observance of the 40 holy days and holidays, it has mately, we are called to sacri- ground up. He did not live out days preceding Easter began in changed over the years, but its fice our little egos and become of his head. It was not mere the early days of the church. purpose has always been the something bigger. That sacri- ideas that he espoused, but While the word Lent was only same: self-examination and fice happens, not in one monu- deeply lived truths about what used much later to identify this penitence, demonstrated by it means to be a fully alive (Continued on page 6) time on the church calendar, self-denial, in preparation Service Thursday, April 13 @ 6:00pm Special Events Maundy Thursday is an alternate name for Holy Thursday, the first of the three days of solemn remembrance of the events Sunday School 10:00 am leading up to and immediately following the crucifixion of Je- Worship 9:00 am & 11:00 am sus. The English word "Maundy" comes from the Latin manda- tum, which means "commandment." As recorded in John's gos- Thursday, April 13 pel, on his last night before his betrayal and arrest, Jesus Maundy Thursday Service 6:00 pm washed the feet of his disciples and then gave them a new com- mandment to love one another as he had loved them (John Friday, April 14 13:34). This is why services on this night generally include the Service 6:00 pm washing of feet or other acts of physical care as an integral part of the celebration. Sunday, April 16 While John's gospel does not record the institution of the Lord's Easter Sunday Service 7:30 am Supper among the events of this night, the other gospels do. Church-wide breakfast by UMM Christians therefore keep this night with celebrations both at following Sunrise Service the basin (footwashing) and at the Lord's Table (Holy Com- Sunday School 10:00 am munion). (www.umc.org/what we believe) Worship 9:00 am & 11:00 am

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From this

Spring 2015

To this

Spring 2017

Finding Your Ministry Submitted by Libby Squires Is it just me or do you feel a new kind of excitement? On March I challenge every one of you to find your ministry. It doesn’t 12 we dedicated God’s beautiful new outreach center. One hun- have to be “big and out-front”. As my beloved Sunday School dred and thirty of us gathered in the Pugh Outreach Center, es- teacher, Larry Myers, has said many times, “it could be sharpen- sentially saying “this building is yours, God, now show us what ing pew pencils”. to do”. Someone said to me just this week, “I’ll be glad to help but how Of course everyone knows this was made possible through the do you know what to do?” My response, “Just show up and say generosity of Charles and Hazel Pugh. What a gift! But now ‘how can I help?’” there’s work to be done. God has laid before us this opportunity The excitement is contagious! Just show up and you will find to do His work. How can we say no? After all, we promised to your ministry! Now, let’s get started with God’s work. do this when we joined the church.

Upcoming Events

Mondays 1:00 pm Prayer Group Thursdays 6:00 pm Ladies Bible Study Mondays 6:30 pm Revelation Bible April 3 10:00 am Sharon Sewing Circle Mon/Thurs 2:45 pm FUSION After School April 3 6:00 pm Church Council Mtg Wednesdays 10:00 am Ladies Bible Study April 8 6:30 pm Hand bell Concert Wednesdays 12:00 pm Lenten Service April 9 9:00 am - 12:00 UMW Bake Sale Wednesdays 5:30 pm ROCK April 10 11:00 am – 2:00 pm Empty Bowls Wednesdays 5:30 pm Choir Practice April 12 6:30 pm UMW Meeting Wednesdays 6:30 pm FUSION See Holy Week Events for a list of special services

3 UNITED METHODIST MEN HAPPENINGS This will be the first time United Methodist Men have met in By Alan Sears Indianapolis, but it is the same city in which men of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church met in 1913. Wouldn’t it be nice to

take a van load of SUMM to Indy?! If you are interested in u We had approximately 30 attend our first breakfast th attending please see me or Jim Connor. in the Pugh Outreach Center, March 19 . Be sure to join us Easter Morning, April 16th, right after the Another retreat opportunity is Saturday April 29th, 8AM – m 7:30 Sunrise Service. We have plenty of room for 4:30PM at the Crossnore Children’s Home Campus in Winston everyone! Please plan to attend this church wide Salem, NC. This is the Western North Carolina Conference Breakfast. gathering of United Methodist Men. If you have an interest in th attending please see me or Jim Connor for more information. m The 12 Quadrennial National Gathering of United Methodist is happening this year in Indianapolis Our wood deliveries are just about done for the season. With July 7th – 9th. The first UM Men Congress met in the mild winter, requests for wood were down this season. 1969. Ten of the previous meetings were held on the campus We’ll have the final tally of loads delivered, for our Wood War- of Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana, and the 2008 and riors, next month. 2012 meetings were held at Belmont University in Nashville.

United Methodist Women’s ANNUAL BAKE SALE Sunday, April 9th Following both morning services we will have a bake sale in the classroom across from the sanctuary. All monies collected will go toward our mission projects this year. If you have a special request for an item please contact a mem- ber of our United Methodist Women ahead of time, so you will be sure to have what you want! Plan to come and buy items to have for your Easter Celebrations! REMEMBER, IT WILL BEGIN FOLLOWING THE EARLY SERVICE, on a first come basis. This has been a very successful fund raiser for us. Thank you for supporting our missions!

CAKES PIES CUPCAKES Community Spaghetti Dinner FROZEN CHICKEN PIES Thank you from the Disciple Bible Classes ASSORTED BREAD SCONES PASTRIES BROWNIES COOKIES Thanks to everyone who participated in the Com- munity Spaghetti Dinner March 21. Sparta UMC fed MUFFINS 210 people who received love as well as food. There were many comments, but our favorite was from a little boy who excitedly said, “Oh my gosh, the whole town of Sparta is here!!"

4 UNITED METHODIST WOMEN HAPPENINGS By Connie Amburn Saturday, March 18th a group consisting of Connie Amburn, Margaret Conner, Jennifer Robinson, Dora Sue Smith, and On March 8th, our meeting was held at 6:30 pm in u Bonnie Vaughan attended the District Prayer Breakfast at the new meeting room of the Pugh Outreach Cen- Broad Street United Methodist Church in Statesville. On the ter. Margaret Conner was this month’s meeting 21st from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm or until we ran out of food and leader. Her focus was on women and young girls new friends, we helped support the Community Spaghetti Din- m in poverty and the problems they face. DAYS ner. FOR GIRLS INTERNATIONAL helps support women by bringing them out of isolation, increase April 3rd will be our next Sharon Sewing Circle. Bring your W days in school and improve health by supplying iron, scissors and fellowship and join us at 10:00 am at the home hygiene kits. church. Mark your calendar for the BAKE SALE April 9th and Empty Bowls on the 10th. We raised about $500 for PROJECT AGAPE at the March 5th Mission Meal. On the 3rd of the month we participated in the Our next regular meeting will be April 12th at 6:30 pm. Gayle WORLD DAY OF PRAYER held at Sparta First Baptist Cobb will be our leader. Every woman is welcome. We miss Church. We were asked to act out Matthew 20:1-6. We had a you when you are not there. Continue to keep our church and fun time with our garden tools and work aprons, interpreting all the new projects in your prayers. the field workers and the landlord manager.

A Thank You to Our Behind-the-Scenes Workers Beverly Pruitt Today We Thank Feeling at home Beverly Pruitt Everyone enjoys eating a good in meal on a “real’ plate instead of a paper plate. And SUMC is known to serve some good meals Sparta UMC’s to large numbers of folks in the community! But oh the dread- ed washing of those plates! Kitchen Ministry comes in all forms and thanks to Beverly Pruitt and her kitchen ministry most of us can avoid that task. You’ll find Beverly at most functions that involve work in the kitchen. She’s an expert on how best to clean those plates and how the fancy dishwasher works. She’ll stand for hours in the steam making sure everything is sanitized for the next event. A truly physically demanding job! Fifth Sunday Sparta United Methodist Church is blessed that Beverly chose this as her church home many years ago. When you see her Coming Together Service tell her how grateful you are for her relentless hard work. th April 30 Thank you Beverly!

Sunday School 9:00 am Worship 10:00 am The most treasured possession of old age is a good disposition. Larry Myers will bring the message —Bonnie Vaughan

5 Wrenn Writes…….. Give Yourself a Minute By Wrenn Kilmatin Walking the walk. Doing what could really even put my fin- suddenly feel. The rest of the does become clear. It glistens is right even when it’s difficult ger on. My mood affected my day was much sunnier! I did and sings! and unfamiliar. I am a person ability to get anything accom- get things done. I was more I will have another day like of faith and sometimes I really plished, it made my family pleasant to be around and I felt last Saturday. We all will from struggle with decisions. When members feel like they were like someone who could make time to time. My hope is that I I choose to get out of my own walking on eggshells, and I a difference in this world for will take my own advice and way and give my problem or was zero fun to be around. At the better. stop for just a minute to say concern up to God, it is always some point in the mid after- We all have struggles. We all (out loud if it helps) “God, I a relief. Immediately, I feel noon, I took myself aside and have problems that feel huge need you to take this.” That’s lighter and happier. Why then, had that “come to Jesus” talk. to us. Things we cannot always it! The next thing I like to do is do I wait so long to do it? Hu- Even when your issues are change. I believe though, that put on my Jackson Browne man nature perhaps? abstract and unclear, you can if we look at every bump in the record (the vinyl) and sit in my still ask God to take them on Last Saturday I spent the better road as a chance to grow and chair with my eyes closed for you. He will. I am always part of the morning feeling to see what God has planned while I listen to Rock Me on amazed at how unburdened I super blue about nothing that I for us then the silver lining the Water.

Empty Bowls Fundraiser New River Bell Ensemble to Perform at Monday, April 10th Sparta UMC April 8

The New River Bell Ensemble will It began eight years ago and it’s still perform A Night at the Theater in going strong. The “it” is the Empty the sanctuary of Sparta United Meth- Bowls fundraising event that will be held April 10th from 11:00 am to 2:00 odist Church April 8 at 7:30 pm. pm in the Pugh Outreach Center. There are 14 members of this hand bell choir from Independence, Vir- This annual event has raised $140,000 to date for the Chil- ginia. Our own Nancy Jones is a member of the Ensemble. dren’s Backpack Program, an arm of the Solid Rock Food The Bell Ensemble was formed in 2013 and has performed in Closet. The Backpack program feeds children at risk of hunger in their home. Every Friday at school, 175 children Independence, Sparta and Galax. receive enough food for four meals over the weekend. These foods are child friendly to prepare and include pro- The Glory of God drivers, we grow into the tein foods like beef stew and chili mac, fruits like ap- (Continued from page 2) whole persons that God created plesauce, fruit juices and milk. During the summer months us to be. mental event, but over-and- the foods are picked up at the Food Closet. Let Lent be the season that over again through continually begins our journey into the self The Backpack Program is funded entirely through dona- practicing self-examination -emptying that Jesus lived and tions, grants and the Empty Bowl fundraising event. and growing in self- calls us to emulate. It is hard knowledge. It is through Tickets are $30 each and include homemade soup in a work and requires sacrifice; growing deeper in understand- bread bowl, dessert and drink along with a piece of pottery but slowly, over time, that Glo- ing our own motivations, rea- made by local potters. There will also be a silent auction ry of God, that Divine Pres- sons for behaviors, hidden which will include pottery and items from other local ven- ence held in our DNA, will be agendas, personality hang-ups, dors. known and seen by the world. unknown gifts and unclaimed We, like Jesus, will show the Three hundred tickets are sold each year for this event and strengths that we move into a Glory of God in the fully alive it has been a sellout every year. Tickets are still available life oriented around the Divine human person that we are de- from Larry Myers at the Food Closet, at Touch of Grace on Center that dwells in each of signed to be and that we be- Main Street and the Chamber of Commerce. us. By shining a light on our come. shadows and our unconscious

6 ROCK children presented a Cross and lead them in the to approximately 50 in attend- program for their parents and powerful prayer that ends the ance. It was a wonderful event, grandparents on Wednesday, stations. This exhibits two which highlighted ROCK, March 22nd. The children per- young Christians leading what the children are learning, formed two skits, then com- younger Christians. and showing parents the Pugh pleted “The Stations of The Outreach Center. Cross” in their new ROCK Then the children, together rooms located upstairs in the with their families, made ban- The children have, and contin- Multi-Purpose room. ners representing what family ue to learn so much in ROCK, News from means to them. Even the Chan- thanks to the leadership of Ta- What was amazing is that two cel Choir took rehearsal time to lina Pipes and helpers Tara R.O.C.K. children, Maria and Caroline, watch the children. The Staff Walker and Gayle Cobb. took their ROCK group Parish Relations Committee By Vickie Sears through the Stations of the served pizza, salad and desserts

R.O.C.K. Parent/Family Night

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO… Greyson Pipes April 1 Maxwell Cox April 16 Waynna Wyatt April 27 Frances Cox April 4 Holly Bazemore April 19 Delta Peterson April 28 David Carpenter April 5 Nancy Jones April 19 Smith Hart April 29 Pat Edwards April 6 James Saintsing April 20 Robert Smith April 30 Emily Hart April 6 Lois Layman April 20 Annabelle Martinson April 8 Wayne Miles April 26 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO… Tony & Pam Greer April 3 Brant & Libby Banks April 17 Linda & Johnny Wishon April 13 John & Elane Elsheimer April 21 Beverly & Loyal Pruitt April 14 7 Non Profit Organization SPARTA US POSTAGE PAID UNITED METHODIST Permit No 36 CHURCH Sparta, NC 28675

190 N Main Street PO Box 697 Sparta, NC 28675 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Rev. Bob Miller Pastor Email: Ben Gatton [email protected] Assistant Pastor [email protected] [email protected] Church Office Hours Loving God Monday-Thursday Website: 8:30 am to 3:30 pm Loving Everyone www.umcsparta.com

Following Jesus Phone: 336-372-4441 Newsletter Deadline FAX: 336-372-1534 15th of each month Sunday Services 9:00 am and 11:00 am Bulletin Deadline Sunday School Weekly by Tuesday 10:00 am

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