MAY - JUNE 2016
CONNECTIONS OPPORTUNITIES FOR DUNWOODY METHODISTS TO CONNECT
THEIR DECISIONS MAKE A DIFFERENCE The next couple of months are going to be a very important time in the life of the United Methodist Church. A number of things are happening that will have an impact on the denomination, our Annual Conference, and on DUMC. The first of these is General Conference. The General Conference of the United Methodist Church meets every four years. It is the top policy making body of the Church. The General Conference is comprised of delegates from across the world. Each Annual Conference, as well as the Central Conferences, is apportioned a specific number of lay and clergy delegates. Here in North Georgia, we elected 11 lay and 11 clergy delegates last year at Annual Conference. This year, General Conference runs from May 10-20. Among the proposals we know will come before this General Conference will be matters related to the definition of marriage, the divestiture of investments in certain banks and companies, and Higher Education. Between now and General Conference, you will hear many individuals and many groups speak out about various issues. Please remember, only the General Conference body decides the policy of the United Methodist Church. The North Georgia Annual Conference, in which our Church is located, will be meeting from June 7-9. DUMC is represented by seven lay and seven clergy delegates; as well as several Members-At-Large from the AROS District. One of the important items on the agenda each year during Annual Conference is the retirement of ministers. This year, our own Reverend Exa Grubb will be retiring from her active status in the Church. Exa has been in ministry for 18 years and faithfully served DUMC for 9 years. We rejoice with both Exa and Will as she takes this step in her life; but we will miss her a lot. Another of the important items on the agenda of the Annual Conference is the sending of Ministers to their various churches. We know with Exa’s retirement there will be changes here at DUMC, but this article is written before the appointments have been announced and we will share those as soon as they become available. From July 13-15, the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church, in which our church is located, will be meeting. Our Annual Conference is represented by 22 lay and 22 clergy delegates. One of the most important items on the agenda for the SEJ meeting is the election of bishops. Our own Bishop B. Michael Watson will be retiring after serving as our episcopal leader here in North Georgia for eight years. I will share more about that later. Just as ministers are sent to churches, bishops are assigned to various areas (or annual conferences). The bishops will receive their assignments at the meeting of the SEJ and assume responsibility of their areas at the beginning of September. As I say, the next couple of months are going to be very important ones. Please keep these Conferences and the people who are representing us in your thoughts and prayers. The decisions that are made make a difference. Blessings,
Dan
“Prayer is where the action is” according to John Wesley. Starting on May 5, the National Day of Prayer, our congregation is going to participate in praying together for 50 days. Each day an email will be sent offering a short prayer written by one of the ministers. These prayers will be connected to our sermon series “Followers.” As many families are traveling for the summer we hope that each family will stay connected to the church through prayer. To sign up for the prayers please go to the website. We will also send out an email invitation to sign up as well.
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CHILDREN
2016 VBS SURF SHACK Mon., June 20 - Thurs., June 23 9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Visit our website at www.dunwoodyumc.org to register. Aftercare is being provide by DUMC Leisure Ministries from 8:30 a.m. -5:30 p.m., M-Friday. Please go to www.sportability.com to register for aftercare. GOD SQUAD – ON AND OFF SITE MISSION CAMP This year’s 3rd - 5th graders, 9:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M., $60 supplies, t-shirt and transportation donation. To register for both programs, visit www.dunwoodyumc.org/children Training for all serving in VBS and God Squad – Sunday, May 1, 11:45 a.m.
HABITAT THANKS YOU
Thank you to all our volunteers who helped make DUMCs first ever Blitz Build a complete success. Due to the generosity and hard work of our congregation at the Holiday Festival 2015 we were able to fund the build of a new home for an incredible family of five. The homeowners were out there building alongside many of you….and now that your sore muscles have recovered yet the memories are still fresh – we want to say thanks to everyone who participated and can’t wait for what next year’s build will bring. Much gratitude to Jack and Bette Whitley for organizing DUMCs 27th build – what an accomplishment DUMC should be proud of – it’s an incredible tradition that we are able to do every spring because our congregation comes together to help. Thank you!
YOUTH
DUNWOODY UMC YOUTH MINISTRY IS LOOKING FORWARD TO A BIG SUMMER! • Our Youth Choir will be going on tour from June 12-18, and will be making stops in Nashville, TN and St. Louis, MI. The Youth Choir will be singing in various small churches and elderly care communities, bringing the joy of the Lord to those who need it. • Beginning on June 26, the High Schoolers will be leaving to go to Red Bird Mission in Kentucky. Red Bird has been around since 1921, and is in the business of bringing newness to communities in the region of the Appalachian Mountains. • Over 50 of our students will participate in rebuilding projects and community development. We are looking forward to what God will do through our students over the next few months. www.DunwoodyUMC.org
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SPORTS & LEISURE
CHALLENGER BRITISH SOCCER CAMP June 6-10, July 25-29 Half Day 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. 1 p.m. - 4 p.m., Full Day 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Ages 5-14 Half day $165, Full day $270 ALL STAR SPORT CAMP June 13-17, July 18-22 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Ages 6-12/ $185 ALL STAR CHEER CAMP June 13-17 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Ages 4-10 $160
UFC NINJA WARRIOR CAMP June 27-30, July 11-14 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Ages 5-12 $165 LITTLE PRINCESS DANCE CAMP June 27-30 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Ages 3-6 $150 ART LAB July 11-14, 18-21, 25-28 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Ages 5-12 $185
www.dunwoodyumc.org/leisure
OUTRAGEOUS OLYMPICS CAMP BY UFC August 1-4 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Ages 5-12 years $165 MINI OLYMPICS PRESCHOOL CAMP BY UFC August 15-19 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Ages 3-6 $165 MINI KICKERS PRESCHOOL SOCCER CAMP August 22-26 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Ages 3-6 $165
MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS
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FELLOWSHIP
CAREER MINISTRY
CARTER PRESIDENTIAL MUSEUM TRIP
FUNK HERITAGE CENTER OF REINHARDT UNIVERSITY
On Friday, May 20, we will visit the Carter Presidential Museum located on a 35-acre park at 441 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta. At the museum, we will get a look back into the life of our 39th president from boyhood, through his presidential years to the present. The museum features Carter’s work since he left office, fighting disease and defending human rights around the world. There are benches available throughout the museum for resting. There are also outdoor sites of interest, gardens and a koi pond. The entry fee is just $6 for seniors. Lunch will be an individual choice at the on-site Copenhill Cafe. We will leave the church at 9:30 a.m. and return by 3:00 p.m., using car pools and the church bus. If possible, you are encouraged to car pool and to actively seek others to share your ride so all who are interested can go. The church bus will be available to the first 15 who request, register and pay. Contact Rev. Exa Grubb at 770394-0674.
Save Friday, June 24 for a memorable day exploring the Funk Heritage Center of Reinhardt University in Waleska, GA, less than an hour north of Atlanta. The Bennett History Museum in the Funk Heritage Center will take us back to early settlers and the American Indian cultures that preceded the European arrival in the Southeast. The Hall of the Ancients offers more detailed historical information about the Indians and early settlers. The entrance to the Bennett History Museum is built to resemble an Iroquois longhouse. Several Indian families would share a similar structure which was one big room, sectioned off for individual families. The structures of Indians living in the Southeast were very different from the structures of Indians living in other regions of North America. Another must-see exhibit is a collection of antique hand tools, dating from as early as the 17th century. Artful individual panels display tools used in a wide variety of trades. This will be a day that brings our frontier, early settlers and Indians to life. Contact Rev.
www.DunwoodyUMC.org
ONE-ON-ONE COACHING
Meet one-on-one with individual career transition “coaches” who will help guide you during times of career transition and or job searching. Get some advice regarding your resume and how to best present yourself during an interview, as well as how to keep your faith during times of uncertainty. Each attendee has the opportunity to meet with two - three different “coaches”. Registration is free, www.career-coach. eventbrite.com, but is required so that the attendee can be “matched up” with the best coach. Meetings are the fourth Tuesday of the month from 7 - 9 p.m. in Francis Asbury B. Contact Joann Akers at akersjoann@gmail.com or 678-3528334 with questions.
Exa Grubb at 770-394-0674.
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A COMMUNITY-WIDE MEAL PACKING FESTIVAL FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY!
Saturday, August 13 To register visit: www.dunwoodyumc.org
The Community Assistance Center, CAC, helps our neighbors every day with food and rental assistance. Each year the CAC helps over 3,000 families in our community. Special thanks to the Preschool. They did a can food drive and collected over 500 cans for the CAC! Please consider donating the following list to help members our neighbors in need. You can drop off your can goods every day at DUMC. We have a special bin marked “CAC” by the vending machines. Thank you for giving! Beans (dry/can) Beef Stew Canned Fruit Canned Meats (Chicken, Tuna, Spam) Canned Vegetables Canned Pastas Cereal Chicken & Dumplings Dry or Evaporated Milk Jelly Jell-O or Pudding Mix Macaroni & Cheese Pasta Meal Makers Peanut Butter Pork and Beans Potatoes (dry/can) Rice Soup Snacks (crackers, cookies) Tomato Sauce 6 | MAY-JUNE 2016
TOILETRIES Diapers (medium, large, xl) Deodorant Disposable Razors Feminine Products Shampoo Soap Toothbrushes Toothpaste PAPER & CLEANING SUPPLIES Laundry Detergent Paper Towels Toilet Paper
Stephen Ministers are lay people — Christian men and women — trained to provide one-to-one care to people experiencing a difficult time in life, such as grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, relocation, or separation due to military deployment. Dunwoody UMC has a Stephen Ministers ready to listen and to help you. Please contact Pat DeBolt at 770.396.6836 or speak to one of the ministers to find out more information. www.DunwoodyUMC.org
MISSIONS ATLANTA COMMUNITY FOOD BANK
The Atlanta Community Food Bank is one of the many organizations where Dunwoody UMC lends a helping hand. Led by John Hewitt, we have been sorting and packing food once a month for over 20 years. The ACFB receives donations from retailers and, after sorting these bulk gifts into manageable quantities, redistributes them to local food kitchens and pantries to get them directly to those in need. Taking the bulk donations and sorting them is where we come in - it’s fun work and they even provide a snack! We go to the ACFB once a month on the second Wednesday, meeting at 8:30 a.m. under the Wiley and Linda Stephens portico, or, if it’s warm, just inside the church. Transportation is provided and we get back to the church by 12:30 p.m. Please come and join in! Questions, contact Alan Shinn, 770-849-0719, or awshinn@comcast.net. For more information on the ACFB, their website is www.acfb.org.
PACKAGE OF HOPE
Dunwoody UMC provides “Package of Hope” the last Saturday of each month. Distributing non-perishable food that will feed a family of four for several days, DUMC’s goal is to make families feel welcome as they work through tough financial times to get back on their feet. In partnership with Action Ministries, DUMC would love to have you join us (to volunteer or for assistance). Upcoming dates are May 28, June 25 in the Youth Area from 9-11 a.m. We have coffee and pastries for fellowship available. Please contact Cindy Hatcher at cindywhatcher@ gmail.com with questions.
Join us for Mission Mondays this summer - June 6, 13, 20, 27, July 11,
18 and 25 - benefiting Hightower Elementary and Action Ministries. We will meet at 5:45 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall for sandwich making and lunch packing. This is a fun way to serve as a family (all ages are welcome). We plan to make 400 lunches at each gathering, for a total of 3200 lunches to support Action Ministries “smart lunch, smart kid” program. Nearly 800,000 children in Georgia receive free or reducedprice lunch at school, a crucial meal that disappears in the summer. We can help ensure that these children are fed during the summer. On July 25, in addition to preparing lunches, we will also be packing backpacks with school supplies for under-privileged children in our community. Donations are always needed: individually packaged bags of chips, fruit cups and drinks (water or juice boxes) in the donation bins near the nursery.
MISSION MONDAYS
UMW SPOTLIGHT UMW BIBLE STUDY CIRCLE These very lovely and wise senior ladies attend Bible Study Circle in the Wesley Room at 9:30 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. They enjoy visiting with each other and sharing light refreshments before the lesson from the Book of Mark is presented by a guest teacher. They always look forward to the Spring Luncheon held in May where they share desserts and salads. For information contact Ruth Ellen Wilkinson at 770-393-8576.
www.DunwoodyUMC.org
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Dunwoody United Methodist Church 1548 Mt. Vernon Road Dunwoody, GA 30338
Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAI D Atlanta, GA Permit No. 3607
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Clergy and Office Numbers
MEMORIALS FOR MARCH IN MEMORY OF: Ardis Baker – Mrs. Betty Moreland Clark David Collins – Mr. and Mrs. Charles Collins John D. Edwards, Jr. – Mr. and Mrs. Jerald Sanders Ralph Marion – Mr. and Mrs. John Reid Charles Payne – Ms. Elizabeth Madden, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Cronnin, Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Patton, Mr. and Mrs. William Schuh, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fortenberry, Mrs. Betty Moreland, Mrs. Cynthia Brewer, Ms. Susan Smith, Crusaders Class, Mr. and Mrs. William Barnes, Mr. and Mrs. John Coyne, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Guidos Bill and Yvonne Robins – Ms. Paula Robins Elizabeth Thayer – Mr. and Mrs. Rollin Mathis John Wray (son of Joyce Wray) – Mrs. Marian Haga
IN HONOR OF: Mrs. Rose Marie Higman – Mrs.Danella Jones William M. Wedding, Sr. – Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Wedding William M. Wedding, Jr. – Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Wedding William M. Wedding, III – Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Wedding
Dan Brown Senior Pastor Josh Amerson Associate Pastor Exa Grubb Minister with Older Adults Ashley Jenkins Minister with Singles/Young Adults & Women Jenna Kennedy Associate Pastor David Melton Minister to the Congregation Sonny Walden Minister of Music Church Office: 770-394-0675 Prayer Line: 770-671-8239 FAX Number: 770-394-8492 E-mail: mail@dunwoodyumc.org Website: www.dunwoodyumc.org
Minister After Hours 770-316-1935
In case of an emergency such as a death or critical illness.