FARMVILLE UNITED METHODISTCHURCH -------------------------------- * ---------------------------------- God’s Calling for FUMC: For the Glory of God – Empowered by the Holy Spirit – We Passionately Seek God’s Truth and Boldly Share the Grace and Love of Jesus Christ. April 2021 Events at FUMC…. Front Page 1 – Message from Pastor Steve…… Message from Pastor Dunn Page 2 – Many years ago, on a break from college, I was taught a lesson about who God is Message from Rev. Lynn Benson and how God works that I have never since forgotten. I was living in student (cont on page 3) housing at that time, and dorms always closed during extended university breaks. For me, this meant that I had no other option than to drive back to my Page 3 – home town, and while I could afford enough gas to leave town, I had no idea how Anniversary Celebration information I was going to pay for the gas to get back. I had spent my very last dollar on the Worship Committee Meeting first half of my trip. As was always the case when I was living in poverty, I was Native American Sunday embarrassed by my predicament and told no one, not even my mother, about my Blood Drive Information desperate situation. I only prayed to God. Back Page 4 Sunday morning at my home church, a woman approached, handed me an Chancel Choir Information envelope, and said, “God told me to give this to you.” Inside that envelope was Community Men’s Study Group an encouraging letter and a $20 bill, which in those days was more than enough Community Women’s Study Group to fill up my gas tank and to get me back to school. Administrative Council Meeting UMMen’s Supper Meeting This served as a reminder to me that God’s very nature is generosity. When it UMWomen’s Meeting looks like there is no way and no hope, God provides. Check absolutely any book of the Bible. God has always been and God will always be the Great Giver. Page 5 This story also continues to remind me that God still speaks to people as clearly Pictures of Leadership Retreat as God spoke to the prophets. Sometimes it may be a strong inclination of our hearts, or some may even hear words as if they had been spoken out loud. But as Page 6 (back page) we are transformed into the likeness of our Savior, who generously meets every Birthdays need, God also moves people toward ever-increasing generosity. In the following Children’s Message Schedule pages, you will find numerous calls to exemplify Godly generosity. You may be Usher Schedule able to give life-saving blood, time in service to our community, financial gifts to Prayer Request support the ministry of your church, and more. If God is whispering to your heart, I urge you to heed the call and give. Like that $20 bill I received well over Inserts – a decade ago, you never know how far into the future your gifts will reach. Pictures of Events Kid’s Page Yours in Christ, April Calendar Pastor Steve Dunn 1 In Faith & Friendship Rev. Lynn Benson I love the story author Jaroldeen Edwards tells (Things I Wish I’d Known Sooner) of the trip she took with her daughter one bleak and rainy day. She wasn’t thrilled to drive more than two hours to see flowers some woman had planted. But her daughter insisted. “You’re going to love this, Mom!” Tell me what mom could resist going along with that kind of enthusiasm. They drove along the Rim of the World Highway, inching their way toward Lake Arrowhead through fog and drizzle in the San Bernardino Mountains, north of Los Angeles, Calif. Just as they turned the corner, Jaroldeen stopped dead—literally gasping in amazement. “There before me was a most incredible and glorious sight! So unexpected and unimagined.” From the top of the mountain, sloping down several acres across folds and valleys, between the trees and bushes, following the natural flow of the terrain, were rivers of daffodils in radiant bloom. Every color of the spectrum of yellow- blazed like a carpet before them. Why? How? Her mind flooded with questions for how this could be. The Daffodil Garden is the handiwork of one woman. A former Los Angeles High School art teacher, Gene Bauer, with her husband, still lives on the property. As Jaroldeen approached the mountain home situated in that sea of yellow, she saw a sign posted by someone who was clearly tired of answering the same questions: Answers to the Questions I Know You are Asking One Woman Two Hands, Two Feet Very Little Brain One Bulb at a Time Started in 1958 This one woman, beginning in 1958, planted each daffodil bulb by hand, one at a time. No shortcuts. Year after year, one dried-up seemingly-lifeless bulb at a time, she planted more than 1,000,000 bulbs. She forever changed her world by creating something of magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. Trying to grasp the enormity of this story? Here are the details that still boggle my mind: -Over 1,000,000 bulbs planted. -There are three to ten flowers per bulb. -The planting has taken place over 49 years. -The goal: Plant 1,000 bulbs a day as time and weather permit. -Some bulbs planted in 1958 are still blooming. -No artificial watering, no fertilizing, never dug out and divided. -Deadheading is the only care received. -More than 500 different varieties of daffodils planted. -All bulbs planted are hybrids. -After clearing and spading an area to be planted, Gene sat on the ground and planted each bulb using a hand trowel. -Even on the two occasions as fires ravaged the property above ground, the bulbs hunkered down, only to rise again the following spring—year after year, after year. I love to read and recall this story because it holds so many life lessons. In our new lot here in Farmville, we have no daffodils (YET), but on our previous property in Rocky Mount, we had lots of these beauties. Daffodils signal spring is coming: Oh, how the promise of spring makes my heart sing! It fills me with enthusiasm, gratitude, joy—and promise! 2 Gene Bauer’s example has inspired me to see “our little yard” not as impossibilities but as challenges to tackle—with a plan in mind, a trowel in hand, one “bulb” at a time. How about you? What do you need to accomplish? Declutter your home? Plant a garden? Build an emergency fund, pay down your debt, downsize to a smaller lifestyle? Why not get started today? Take that first step. Then take another over and over again, one baby step at a time. You will be amazed at what will come of your effort no matter how small. Soon you’ll be changing the landscape of your life one tiny, beautiful step of promise at a time. Galatians 6:9 Let’s not get tired of doing good, because in time we’ll have a harvest if we don’t give up. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “Native American Ministries 120th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Sunday is April 18, 2021! Your gifts to Native American SEPT. 19, 2021 Ministries Sunday support scholarships for Native Farmville United Methodist Church is turning 120 this American seminarians, strengthen and develop Native year and we are planning an event for the congregation, American ministries and communities, and support past members and the community to celebrate with us. Native American outreach at the annual We have a small group working on preliminary plans - conference level. Pastor Steve, Nan Walston, Nancy Harris, Marion Stowe Join us on April 18, 2020, Native American Ministries and Carolyn Erwin. And hope to have many others join Sunday, as we celebrate the gifts and contributions of us to plan and hold this event. our Native American brothers and sisters. If you would The third Sunday in September is the preliminary date like to make a contribution to this ministry, indicate on for the celebration. We have discussed holding some your check “Native American,” drop it in the offering events the week prior leading up to the celebration plate or by the church office. Sunday. Sunday's celebration will include a catered meal so everyone can visit and enjoy the event. We would also love to have the names, addresses, phone numbers or email addresses of anyone you know would love to join us for this wonderful celebration. This may be someone who no longer lives in Farmville or someone who grew up in the church. Notify the church office or any planning team member with the contact information. Many have contributed to this wonderful church we have today. We want to make this a joyful celebration of our church family and its heritage. Anyone interested in helping to plan the event is welcome to join the planning team. Please text Carolyn Erwin at 252-714-1516 with your name. FARMVILLE COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE The next meeting of the 120th Anniversary Planning SUN. APR. 18 Committee is Thursday, April 8 at 10:00am. Give Blood – Help Save Lives - Sun. April 19 – 12:00pm – 4:00pm The American Red Cross encourages donors of all blood types to donate. Blood of every type is always in demand for patients in need Worship Committee One hour per week. Have you ever of blood transfusions. For more information considered that’s the amount of time we allot for or to schedule your appointment to donate, corporate worship on Sunday mornings? The Worship visit redcrossblood.org.