April 2017 Newsletter

gl ned

i Sta

rit Spi y l Ho

ass

April 2017 Our Mission: To fulfill our call to be the physical presence of Jesus Christ... by worshipping God with passion, intentionally growing in faith, proclaiming the gospel with grace, and humbly serving in love.

Contents: Page 1:

Holy Week 2017

Page 2:

Monthly Reflection

Page 3:

Missions and Outreach

Page 4:

Pastoral Care

Page 5:

Adult Ministries

Page 6:

Adult Ministries

Page 7:

Adult Ministries

Page 8:

WCA & WCP

Page 9:

Children & Youth Ministries

Page 10: Music & Evangelism Page 11: Announcements Page 12: Church Information

This h t n o m at

EASTER S U N D A Y

Holy Thursday 7:00 p.m. | Sanctuary

Good Friday 7:00 p.m. | Sanctuary

Easter Sunday 7:00 a.m. Sunrise Service | Cemetery Entrance 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m. | Sanctuary 10:10 a.m. | Family Life Center 10:00 a.m. Monroe Campus | 11:00 a.m. Bonds Grove

Join Weddington United Methodist Church this Holy Week and Easter Sunday, as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ!

We begin our celebration of Holy Week on Palm Sunday (April 9) with regular Sunday worship times, with a procession to commemorate Christ’s entry into Jerusalem at the 11:00 a.m. worship service at the Weddington Campus. Holy Thursday (April 13) and Good Friday (April 14) services will be held in the Weddington Campus Sanctuary at 7:00 p.m. In addition to our regular worship times on Easter morning, we will celebrate with a Sunrise Service at 7:00 a.m. at the cemetery entrance on Providence Road. We will also have Easter Sunday services at our Bonds Grove and Monroe campuses at regular worship times.

Following the Sunrise Service, all are invited to a breakfast hosted by the WUMC United Methodist Men in the Family Life Center (FLC) from 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. We invite you to bring flowers on Easter Sunday to adorn the crosses sponsored by the members of the Lucy Price Circle. For more information on our Easter celebrations, see page 11.

WELCOME TO WEDDINGTON UMC The Weddington UMC family is a vibrant and growing congregation, and we invite you to become a part of this exciting and dynamic church, as we seek to serve as the Body of Christ in our world. God is doing great things in and through this church. We offer a variety of worship styles and ministry opportunities.

We would love to have you join us for worship, ministry, and service. As the church, we are a family. To learn more about WUMC, attend a Meet Weddington session to get to know the staff and learn more about the church. For more information on Meet Weddington see page 11.

Monthly Reflections - Rev. Dr. Terry L. Moore Holy Week Holy Week is a vital week in the Christian Faith. It is deemed as Holy Week because this is the week when God demonstrates how incredible God’s sacrificial love is for us.

Many will be traveling due to Spring Break. I encourage you to spend some time with your families to reflect on each day of this sacred week.

Good Friday - Read Mark 15 Jesus is betrayed, arrested, denied, slapped, spat on, and crucified. At 9:00 a.m., he is nailed to the cross. At noon, darkness covers the face of the earth as even God could not bear to watch. At 3:00 p.m., Jesus dies.

Saturday Reflect on what would have happened if this had been the end of the story.

Palm Sunday – Read Matthew 21:1-11 Jesus rides into Jerusalem. The people cry, “Hosanna,” which means, “Save now.”

Easter Sunday – Read Matthew 28:1-20 God proclaims ultimate victory over sin and death as He raises Jesus from the dead.

Monday – Read Matthew 21:12-17; 22:15-22 Jesus cleanses the temple.

Jesus is asked about paying taxes. The coin has the image of Caesar. We have the image of God. “Give to Caesar that which is Caesar’s. But give to God that which is God’s.”

This is the story of our faith. This is the story of Salvation.

This is the story of our God who so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Tuesday – Read Matthew 23:1-39 Jesus warns the scribes and the Pharisees with the “woe” sayings.

Wednesday – Read Matthew 25:1-46 Jesus may have spent time preparing for the cross on the Mount of Olives just outside of Jerusalem.

Holy Thursday – Read Matthew 26:1-75 Jesus meets with the disciples in the upper room to celebrate the Passover. Jesus adds the elements of the bread and cup for His body and blood. Jesus shares that He will be betrayed by one of His own and that Peter will deny Him three times.

Page 2

In ministry together, Rev. Dr. Terry L. Moore Senior Pastor

Missions Missions . Rev. Rocio Ávila-Ramírez.

Foreign Mission Chairperson . Bob Consoli

News and Announcements Monroe Campus Sunday Worship This past month, we began worship at our Monroe Campus.

On our opening Sunday of celebration, we had over 60 in attendance, half of whom were from our Weddington Campus and the other half from the local community. We look forward to continuing to teach the Word of God and worship together. As I have shared before, for many, it is the first time they are learning biblical messages and stories. The expressions on their faces as they learn are of awe and finding. Please continue your support, especially with prayers.

Sharing the Good News to first time listeners is a beautiful yet challenging privilege.

Room In The Inn Thank you to all who served our neighbors through this ministry. March 24 was our last night of hosting for this season. Many of you have volunteered through this ministry for the very first time this winter and we thank you. We pray for all the families and people that we were able to welcome. We pray that next season we can continue to be loving and open doors for those in need. A special thank you to Pastor Leroy Henry, Scott Baldwin, and Will Owens who were our overnight hosts for the season.

Building Brothers Commissioning April 23 Join us on Sunday, April 23 at the 11:00 worship service as we commission the Building Brothers Mission Team before they leave for their trip to Johns Island, South Carolina on April 27.

White Oak Ministry Volunteers It has been some time now that Weddington UMC has been supporting our brothers and sisters at White Oak Assisted Living. We have a core group of volunteers who devote one Saturday morning a month to share in this rewarding ministry and we would love to have others join us as well! The residents truly appreciate the time and interaction. If this sounds like something of interest, please join us at White Oak Assisted Living, 700 Howie Mine Road in Waxhaw every 2nd Saturday of the month at 10:30 a.m. to worship, sing, and have fellowship with these wonderful residents! Don’t worry if you don’t/can’t sing - you don’t have to! For more information contact Lisa Keeler.

A Letter of Gratitude from Sibiu, Romania "I am a social worker for a day center in Sibiu, Romania, who cares officially for 35 children between 6 and 14 years old. They come every day to our center to do homework, eat a snack and have some fun. These children are from very poor families.

They live in conditions hard to imagine. I started working there one year ago. My constant prayer was that these children and my colleagues would know Jesus. Nine months later, God opened a door. Pastor Cristian Istrate (my pastor also) received permission to come every Wednesday to teach the children about God. It is wonderful to see him pray with them and see them have a hungry heart.

To support ourselves, we used to get help from a private organization in Switzerland. The organization assured us that the whole year 2016 would be covered with the money we need.

However, we received an official letter that they would stop being our sponsor as of November.

My boss knew time was too short to find another sponsor because the amount of money is quite big. I remember the struggle we went through. I prayed and I fasted a lot. We barely got our salaries in November. My boss was thinking we would have to close in December if nothing changed.

Then came your donation. I remember the shock on our faces and the silence that covered the room for a few seconds. We didn't know to shout for happiness, cry for relief, or both. I only knew, as my tears were freely falling, God is faithful and He will never forsake us. The words will never be enough to thank you, but my prayer (and I am sure my colleagues agree) is that God will bless you." -Kiki Pop

Kiki Pop Page 3

Pastoral Care Pastoral Care Ministry . Rev. Ed Briggs Stephen Ministry Continuing Education on April 23 Ever wonder how to care for someone who

is stressed out and feeling overwhelmed? Jonathan Hetterly, a therapist from Southeast Psych, will be with us on Sunday, April 23 at 6:15 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall to give us guidance on how to support people we know who are having a hard time dealing with anxiety from everyday living. This Stephen ministry continuing education is open to our congregation and community.

Plan on attending so that you can be better equipped to help your loved ones who are struggling.

If you would like more information about this event, please contact Rev. Ed Briggs.

Save the Date: Humbly Serving in Love Fair Sunday May 7: 9:30-10:00 a.m. in Helms Hall and 11:10 a.m. in the Family Life Center. Representatives from various ministries will be present to invite you to say yes to serving opportunities.

GriefShare Testimony Griefshare has been a huge part of my life since the loss of my family. Within six years I lost my grandmother, stepfather and mother. When my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer, we put our faith in God and enjoyed every minute together knowing God was in control. My mother’s faith was so strong, she never blamed God for having cancer. Once chemo and radiation were no longer an option, the doctor gave my mother nine months to live. I was devastated and couldn’t imagine my life without her. At some point, the person that I could always talk to would no longer be there. July 22, 2015 my mother went to be with the Lord. At that time, I didn’t know how I would ever go on without talking to my mother every day or seeing her each week. To be honest, I really never grieved the loss of my grandmother or stepfather because I was so focused on my mother’s needs during that time, so the reality set in that all three of them are now in heaven.

My mother gave me a strong foundation, she planted seeds allowing me to grow and make my own decisions. However, she always knew what was best for me and gave the best advice. One day we were talking about her friend who lost her husband and the best thing she ever did was attend Grief Share meetings. After my mother passed, I knew I would look into the Grief Share meetings, but I didn’t know when. You see, I was the person that drowned myself in my work, cried everyday in the shower and went straight to bed when I got off work. I was so depressed it was hard to leave the house. Every time I spoke about the death of one of my family members I would just cry. This was starting to effect my body negatively and I knew I had to do something. I prayed and asked God to show me the way to deal with my emotions and feeling lost. Then, I remember my mother talking about how Grief Share really helped her friend, so I called Weddington UMC and got more information about the Grief Share meetings. I was hesitant at first about going because I didn’t know how others would react to my feeling and tears because expressing myself was something I felt more comfortable doing at home. To be honest, my closest friends were no longer there for me. Even the people at church that I thought I could talk to and be open with, they would walk the other way when they saw me. So, I didn’t know how strangers would react to me sharing a huge part of my loss with them.

I was already receiving the daily encouraging emails from Grief Share which were extremely inspiring. I still was apprehensive about going to a Grief Share meeting and I kept making excuses as to why I couldn’t attend. One day I received a call from Elizabeth, one of the leaders. She and I were on the phone for what seemed like forever to me. She made me feel so comfortable, she validated my feeling, and she let me know what I was going through was normal. I knew then that this was the place where I could feel safe sharing my feelings without being judged. From the moment I walked in, I was welcomed with open arms. I was blown away that other people were going through the same thing. I was very quiet at the beginning, sharing my story and feelings when I could. At first I couldn’t talk about my family without tearing up and that was okay. I’ve learned so much by attending the Grief Share meeting and the support is unreal.

My life will never be the same and going through three sessions of Grief Share has helped me to grow closer to God, get to know others in the same situation, learn ways to deal with my new “normal,” and has opened my eyes regarding how I can help others. The videos, discussions, and workbook are very powerful, but the leaders who take their time each week to lead these groups are amazing. I would not be this far in my grief journey without them. I’m so grateful to God and blessed that I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of this griefshare group at Weddington UMC. -Wendy K.

Page 4

Adult Ministries Women's Ministry Susanna Wesley Circle Please join the Susanna Wesley Circle for our next meeting Friday, April 7, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in Helms Hall. Childcare is available in the Nursery wing, beginning at 9:15 a.m.

After some delicious food, prayer and fellowship, we will hear from Debbie Breen, Principle Therapist and Owner of South Charlotte Family Counseling. Debbie is a woman of strong faith and has been raising children for 30 years. She has received a master of counseling and psychology from the University of West Alabama and a master of theology from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary! We look forward to hearing what she has to say about Christian parenting.

Thank you again for being part of this ministry. We are in continuous prayer that our theme and message in every meeting will lead many to Jesus Christ our Savior. If you are interested in learning more, please email us at secretaryswc@gmail.com.

Lucy Price Circle We invite all ladies of the church to join us for the Lucy Price Circle meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11, at the Bonds Grove Fellowship Hall. Social time begins at 6:30 and the meeting starts at 7:00. Donna Rich will share her inspirational testimony with us of how God has been faithful during times of adversity. We will also continue the greeting card activity with Wendy Williams leading us.

Lucy Price will continue the tradition of placing flower crosses in front of the entrances to the Sanctuary and Family Life Center on Easter Sunday. We invite everyone attending the Easter services to bring flowers from their yard and place them on the crosses to honor our risen Lord.

Lucy Price normally meets on the second Tuesday evening of the month from September through May. All women of the church are invited to join us. You may contact Carolyn Canzonieri at c_canzonieri@carolina.rr.com for additional information about the circle.

Mary Martha Circle will meet on Friday, April 7, at 9:30 a.m. in the WUMC Fellowship Hall.

This month circle members are asked to bring candy and other small items for Easter treat bags to be given to the Homework Help kids at the Monroe campus. Deedie Baldwin will be our guest speaker and share about the Homework Help program there.

We welcome all ladies of the church to join us the first Friday of every month September through May for fellowship.

Contact Mary Revels at revelsmary@carolina.rr.com or Tommie Craig at tommiecraig@carolina.rr.com for more information.

United Methodist Men (UMM) Men’s Connection Breakfast UMM welcomes Colin Pinkney as featured speaker on Sunday, April 9. His topic will be "The Hungers of Every Man." Mr. Pinkney is currently Executive Director of The Harvest Center of Charlotte and the Team Chaplain for the Charlotte Hornets.

From 1995 to 2012 Colin led Urban Restoration Inc., which reached over 15,000 young people with life changing messages of hope and dignity. He is the author of several books and a devoted father and husband. For more information on the Harvest Center, go to www.theharvestcenter.org.

Easter Sunday Breakfast There will be no meeting on our regular date of April 23 as the Men's Connection will be cooking breakfast from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. on Easter Sunday, April 16. Even if you are not going to the Sunrise Service, stop by for breakfast before worshiping on Easter Sunday. Men's Connection will be providing the breakfast and a love offering will be taken.

Page 5

Adult Ministries . Rev. Mark Curtis Resource Center : Great Books! Staff Recommendation - Rev. Amy Hutchison As someone who has grown up in a Christian home, I have often wondered what it would be like to really risk everything to be a Christian. How much belief and conviction would I have to have in Christ as the risen savior to say goodbye to my family and the life I have always led in order to follow him? Nabeel Qureshi knows this experience in an intense way, and outlines this in Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus. Qureshi is a former Muslim who left his home after having an experience with Christ that he could not deny. For many years, Qureshi spent his life touring and talking to communities about that experience and the life he led both before and after conversion. One thing that I love about him is that because he lived many of his years as a Muslim, he truly understands the language and sticking points in order to meet people where they are.

This is a great book for anyone looking to understand Islam more or who desires tools for how to speak to those who are not Christians.

You can check out a copy of this Great Book! as well as many other fine Christian resources from the WUMC Resource Center located just off of Helms Hall in Room 212 or online at www.weddingtonchurch.org/resource-center.

Ladies Night Out Saturday, May 6, 2017 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Family Life Center WUMC Women's Ministries invites you to a night of fun fellowship, donation prizes, dessert, worship with professional singer/songwriter Emily Lynch, and an uplifting message from author Elizabeth Maxon. We will be raising money for scholarships for our annual Women's Fall Retreat (Nov. 3-5).

Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. The cost is $18 with FREE childcare. You can purchase tickets on the church website or we will be in Helms Hall and FLC on April 9, 23, and 30: www.weddingtonchurch.org/ladies-night-out. For more information, please contact Rev. Amy Hutchison.

Adult Sunday School Studies 9:30 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

11:15 a.m.

Page 6

LADIES Night Out May 6, 2017 6:30 - 8:30 WUMC Women's ministries invites you to a night of fun fellowship, donation prizes, desert, worship from professional singer/songwriter, Emily Lynch and an uplifting message from author, Elizabeth Maxon. We will be rising money for scholarships for our annual Women's Fall Retreat (Nov. 3-5).

Doors will open at 6:00 - Family Life Center Cost - $18 and FREE childcare You can purchase tickets on church website or we will be in Helms Hall and FLC on April 9, 23 & 30.

Agape Foundations Jay Emry

Book of John, Chapters 1, 2, and 3 Book of Hebrews, taught by Chuck Howard Adult Comprehensive Bible Study, by David Cook

Shepherds View

The Seven Deadliest Sins

Helms Hall Room 213

Closer Walk

Tell Someone with Greg Laurie

Room 19

Cornerstone Crossroads Great Walk Doers of the Word Light of the World

Revelation, led by Kent and Nancy Allain Book of Job, led by Chuck Howard True Spirituality, by Chip Ingram 1 and 2 Thessalonians Experiencing God, by Henry Blackabye

Room 214/215 Youth Center, 102 Youth Center 101 FLC, Multi-Purpose Room Helms Hall Room 213

Revival, by Adam Hamilton Down to Earth, by Michael Slaughter

Youth Center Room 204 Youth Center 203

Journeys New Creation

Youth Center, Main Area Room 19 Room 214/215

Adult Ministries Monroe Campus Resource Center We are excited to share the creation of a new branch of our Resource Center at the Monroe Campus. We have purchased several children’s books to be included in the library. A new Spanish commentary set of the entire Bible has been purchased along with other bible resources such as a study Bible and dictionary. Here is a brief description of the commentary set: Conozca Su Biblia (Know Your Bible) is a unique new Bible series written in Spanish by leading Hispanic theologians and Bible educators. Written for preachers, teachers and laypersons, it avoids unnecessary technical terms and goes right to the heart of the Bible text. Fresh, insightful, and inspiring, this commentary focuses on the meaning and the message of each book of the Bible.

Scripture texts are from the two most commonly used Bibles by Latinos: The Reina-Valera and the Version Popular (Good News). Justo L. Gonzalez is the series' general editor.

We are working with Rev. Rocio Avila-Ramirez to offer Bible studies and helpful study materials as well as appropriate devotional books. As our ministries at the Monroe Campus continue to grow, it is our hope to provide meaningful resources to assist all the members of our church community to intentionally grow in faith.

Whether it’s family movie night, bedtime story time, mom or dad’s time to unwind, or time for some Christian inspiration, the Resource Center has something special for you. The WUMC RC is located in Room 212 in the Sanctuary Building. It is currently open only on Sunday mornings from 9:15 until 12:15. The Resource Center is volunteer staffed. If you are interested in helping in this ministry, please contact resourcecenter@weddingtonchurch.org.

Kings & Queens . Sandra McKee April Meeting We will meet Thursday, April 13 at 10:00 a.m. in the Family Life Center. You will not want to miss this program, as Jeff Keener is returning as “Elvis.”

April 19: Friendship Luncheon at Golden Corral in Monroe. For transportation, we will meet at the Weddington Campus Fellowship Hall at 11:00 a.m., or you can meet us at Golden Corral at 11:30 a.m.

Upcoming Trips: Monday, April 24: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden – cost $13 plus lunch. (Due April 13.)

Monday, May 15: Tiger World: An endangered wildlife preserve dedicated to rescue, rehabilitation, and preservation of exotic animals. Details to follow.

The Creation & The Ark Trip Join us for a trip with Christian Tours to Kentucky to see Noah’s Ark, which is a life-sized reconstruction of Noah’s Ark built according to the dimensions given in the Bible and other sites. A $200 deposit is due to complete your registration. Contact Sandra McKee for additional information.

Jim and Judy Orrange, Roberta Thompson, Shirley Hoskins, Roma Walker, and Lynda Hayes

Page 7

Weddington Christian Academy . Adell Keen, Principal Challenging the mind, preparing the heart, nurturing the soul.

Invest In A Child Campaign The 'Invest In A Child' giving campaign is held to help further the mission and ministry of WCA. All donations enhance our students’ education experiences.

During the weeks of the campaign, parents receive emails with essays from our students that show how WCA has impacted their lives. Here a couple of those essays: Ryan McKibben: How WCA Has Grown My Faith in God WCA is always helping me get closer to God and that is a great quality of this school. I love that we have a bible class every morning. I have noticed that every teacher wants me to get closer to God because they know that if we follow Him we will be led in the right way. WCA helps me grow closer to God so when I'm older, He will be my number one focus.

Our third grade class leading chapel. They

Jack Traficanti: My Journey in Faith at WCA by My journey through WCA has led used LEGO builds and pictures to depict the me to have great friends. I have learned through faith that I belong at WCA. Bible verse "I am with you and will be with you studies, math, language arts, social studies, and science have taught me so much. wherever you go." Genesis 28:15. This was a great reminder of God's love and presence During Christmas, fourth grade made bags for Room in the Inn. We provided for everyone. supplies for people who aren't as fortunate as we are. Fourth grade, along with WCA, is a community of believers... just like me.

Weddington Christian Preschool . Emily Campbell, Director News and Announcements WCP Golf Tournament We are praising God for the success of the second annual WCP Golf Tournament on March 27! Many thanks to the Charlotte Motor Speedway for sponsoring, and to Corey Glass for organizing this special event hosting golfers at the Ballantyne Resort.

Spring Choral Programs Please join us for the WCP Spring Choral Programs: • The Three’s Program: Tuesday, April 25, at 6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary • The Four’s and Five’s Program: Wednesday, April 26, at 12 noon in the Sanctuary • The Bond’s Grove Campus Program: Thursday, April 27, at 11:30 a.m. in the BG Sanctuary Registration for WCP Summer Camps Registration is open to all for our 2017 Summer Camps, with only a few spots left!

Please visit our website for more information and forms. Summer camp dates are June 6-8, July 11-14, and August 8-11.

A WCP Weddington Campus Tour Will be offered Wednesday, April 26. Please visit our website to see future tour dates. Tours will start at the main WUMC sanctuary entrance near the fountain at 2:00 p.m. To respect the privacy and security of children and families enrolled at WCP, tours will be offered on the Bonds Grove campus by appointment only. Please call 704-843-6785 or email us.

Looking ahead to Spirit Night Pizza and Preschoolers! Join WCP and our good friends at Lorenzo’s Pizzeria May 1 and 2 for an evening of delicious food and no hassle meal planning. Mention “Weddington Christian Preschool” when ordering, and our preschool will receive a portion of BOTH nights proceeds! Lorenzo’s boasts outstanding pizza, pasta, salad, and gluten free dishes. For more menu information, please visit www.lorenzos-pizzeria.com. WCP benefits from both take out and dine-in orders.

Page 8

Children and Youth Ministries Children’s Ministry . Carolyn Nelson News and Announcements Holy Week Childcare Childcare will be available in the nursery wing for the Holy Thursday and Good Friday services starting at 6:40 p.m. Nursery care will be available for all services except Sunrise on the Weddington campus on Easter Sunday.

Easter Eggstravaganza is coming! Mark your calendars on April 8 at 10:00 a.m. for a morning of fun as we celebrate that Jesus Is Alive! Children age 2 through 2nd grade can come and hunt for eggs, play in the jump houses, make Easter crafts, decorate cookies, and of course, get a lot of candy!

Volunteers are needed for this event-youth too! To volunteer, please contact Carolyn Nelson.

Easter Candy Needed to fill over 2000 eggs for our Easter Eggstravaganza! Wrapped candy can be brought to the KidCheck station and Helms Hall and placed in the bins marked, "Easter Candy for Egg Hunt." Candy can be brought through Sunday, April 2. Thank you for your generous donations!

J.A.M (Jesus & Me), our Wednesday night program will not meet on Wednesday, April 19. We will return the following week!

Maker Fun Factory: Created By God, Built for a Purpose! Monday, June 26- Friday, June 30 Vacation Bible Camp registration is now open! Register your child between services and at the KidCheck station or, download the forms on our website. Children who will turn age 5 by August 31 through rising 5th graders are invited to attend. VBC will be held on Monday, June 26- Friday, June 30 from 9:00 a.m.-12 noon. Cost is $10 per child and includes an iron-on transfer for a t-shirt.

Music CD’s can be purchased for an additional $7.00. Our church will be buzzing with excitement as curious kids become hands-on inventors who discover they are lovingly crafted by God. Many volunteers needed too—both adults and youth. Questions, please contact Carolyn Nelson.

Part-time Childcare Positions are available for individuals who are 19 and older. Openings include Sunday mornings, Tuesday evenings, and Wednesday evenings with other days and times as needed. Those interested in applying should contact Emily Gray to schedule an interview. All employees will need to pass a criminal background check.

Youth Ministry . Charlie Brown & Rev. Meredith Hinton Sunday Night Youth begins at 6:30 p.m. There are

programs for Jr. and Sr. High students, with Bible study and games. Afterward, everyone comes together for worship.

Youth Bible Study Join us on Wednesdays from 7:00 8:00 p.m. in the Youth Center. Doors are open from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Senior High Retreat March was an exciting month full

of growth and relationship. Our Senior High students went to Topsail beach for our annual winter retreat. We rented a house and all 47 of us spent the weekend focused on being present and the presence of God. We honestly couldn’t have asked for a better weekend. Not only was it warm enough to hang out on the beach, enjoy the waves and feed the seagulls, but it also snowed on Sunday as we were leaving!

It was a beautiful weekend and one to remember. Several of our youth described their encounters with God, and how the Holy Spirit filled places in their hearts that were empty. It was truly a remarkable and memorable weekend.

News and Announcements April holds a lot of

exciting things for the lives of our youth. Our Confirmands will be confirmed Palm Sunday night at our special Confirmation service. All are invited to attend and we are especially grateful Bishop Paul Leeland will be leading our service.

We also anticipate an equally amazing Middle School retreat towards the end of the month. We would like to encourage all of our middle school students to please register for a wonderful weekend at Camp Hanes!

Page 9

The Music and Arts Ministry of

Weddington United Methodist Church presents

The Seven Last Words of Christ Théodore Dubois (1837-1924)

Music & Arts Ministry.

Dr. Reginald Houze Holy Week Music

featuring

The Chancel Choir

Dr. Reginald M. Houze, Conductor Manna KnJoi, Soprano John Kaneklides, Tenor Dr. John Blizzard, Baritone Dr. Robert P. Ridgell, Organ Andrea Mumm, Harp Good Friday April 14, 2017 7:00 p.m.

Will Keith, Timpani

Weddington United Methodist Church 13901 Providence Road Weddington, North Carolina

Palm Sunday Processional Join us on Sunday, April 9 as we commemorate Christ's entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday at the 11:00 a.m. worship service at the Weddington Campus.

Good Friday Music The Music and Arts Ministry will present The Seven Last Words of Christ by Théodore Dubois featuring The Chancel Choir and many guest soloists and musicians. Make plans to come and hear Christ's final statement from the Cross on Friday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the Weddington Sanctuary.

Evangelism Ministry . Rev. Amy Hutchison Evangelism: Easier Than You Fear Many find it difficult to talk to people about Christ. In this day of “coexist” and “can’t we all just get along?” it is easy to shy away from conversations thinking that we may offend someone or, worse, push them away from Christ instead of helping to reveal Christ. One of the reasons I believe we are intimidated to talk to people about Christ is that evangelism is often interpreted as “I need to change you” instead of “I have something to offer you.” NT Wright talks in his book Simply Good News about how we have changed the gospel from the Good News (evangelion) to an advice column for those who do bad things. If that is all Jesus has to offer me, I can get advice anywhere without having to be in church every Sunday! Instead, as Christians we say that the gospel is Good News, that we are so loved that God desired to live among us and offered his life for us. How can we not want to share that?

Still, there’s the fear we have that we will offend. What if the person I am talking to was burnt by the church? What if they don’t want to hang out with me because I am one of those “Jesus freaks”? But this is an unwarranted fear! In a recent study, Lifeway reported that 79% of the unchurched doesn’t mind a friend talking to them about their faith. (And chances are, if they are the 20% they will let you know!) Even better news, most are likely to attend a church-sponsored event, if invited. This spring, we have many great opportunities to invite your unchurched friends and neighbors to church activities: The Easter Eggstravaganza on April 8 and special Holy Week services. So fear not, gather your friends and neighbors and welcome them to be a part of all that God is doing here at Weddington UMC.

News and Announcements Hospitality Team Members Needed If you have a passion for helping others find their place here at Weddington, we would love to have you serve as a part of the Hospitality Team. The Hospitality Team serves at various events on-campus where those new to our community or those who haven’t yet found their church home may be. We greet, serve, and answer questions as we can about church activities. Team members sign up for events they can serve that work into their schedule. If you feel called to serve on this team, please contact Rev. Amy Hutchison.

Young Professionals Lunch If you are a young professional looking to connect with other young professionals at Weddington, we invite you to Third Sunday Lunches. We meet in the Information Center in the Sanctuary at 12:15 p.m.

Page 10

Church Announcements Meet Weddington Sessions

Wednesdays @ Weddington

Interested in becoming a part of the Weddington UMC family? As your clergy, program staff, and fellow Christians, it will be our privilege to grow and serve together. We request that anyone interested in membership attend one of our Meet Weddington Church sessions.

Join us for a church-wide fellowship meal in the Family Life Center on Wednesdays. Meals are served from 5:00-6:15 p.m.

Cost is $5 per person, $20 max for families. No reservations are necessary. All are welcome!

At Meet Weddington, you will enjoy an informal time of fellowship, meet the pastoral and ministry staff, hear an overview of the ministry and mission of the church and get answers to any questions you may have about Weddington UMC.

• April 5- Glazed baked ham, cheesy potatoes, and oven roasted green beans, roll, apple dump cake • April 12 - Spaghetti, bread stick, salad bar, and assorted cookies • April 26 - Country style steak, mashed potatoes, broccoli casserole, roll, and banana pudding

Meet Weddington Church sessions are usually held on the 4th Sunday of each month at 5:00 p.m. in the Family Life Center Multipurpose Room. The next meeting will be April 23.

April Menu

*Please Note - We will not have W@W on April 19.

Sanctuary AVL Project Update Progress is being made in the AVL system overhaul. The old sound booth has been removed. The new expanded booth is almost complete. The existing lighting dimmer system has been dismantled and this week the new LED theater lighting is going in. Over the next few weeks, the “beehive” speaker arrangement will come down and new speaker arrays installed. Also, the existing projectors and screens will be replaced. Our hope is still that the new system will be functional by Easter. We’ll continue to post updates or, for questions, please contact JoAnn Horstman.

Holy Week Worship Schedule Palm Sunday Regular service times with a procession to commemorate Christ’s entry into Jerusalem at the 11:00 a.m. worship service at the Weddington Campus Holy Thursday 7:00 p.m. in the Weddington Sanctuary Good Friday 7:00 p.m. in the Weddington Sanctuary The Seven Last Words of Christ by Théodore Dubois

EASTER

Easter Sunday 7:00 a.m. Sunrise Service in the Cemetery with Brass Quintet S U N D A Y 7:30 a.m. Breakfast in the Family Life Center 8:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary with The Chancel Choir, Brass Ensemble, and Percussion 9:30 a.m. in the Weddington Sanctuary 10:00 a.m. at the Monroe Campus 10:10 a.m. in the Family Life Center 11:00 a.m. in the Weddington Sanctuary with The Chancel Choir, Brass Ensemble, and Percussion 11:00 a.m. at the Bonds Grove Campus *Nursery care will be available for the 8:00, 9:30, 10:10, and 11:00 services on the Weddington campus on Easter Sunday

Page 11

“Jesus said to her,

“I AM the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live.”

J O H N

1 1 : 2 5

Sunday Worship Times 8:15 a.m.

Traditional (Sanctuary) 9:30 a.m.

Praise and Worship (Sanctuary) 10:00 a.m.

Bilingual Worship (Monroe Campus) 10:10 a.m.

Acoustic Praise and Worship (FLC) 11:00 a.m.

Traditional (Sanctuary) 11:00 a.m.

Traditional (Bonds Grove Campus)

Justin Flom Live Tour Postponed Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Justin Flom LIVE Make Magic, Share Joy event has been POSTPONED. We are working to confirm new dates and will share those once they become available. In the meantime, refunds are available at the point of purchase. For more information, please visit www.justinflom.com.

Rev. Dr. Terry L. Moore, Senior Pastor terry.moore@weddingtonchurch.org

Elizabeth Mitchell, Director of Communications elizabeth.mitchell@weddingtonchurch.org

Rev. Mark Curtis, Teaching Pastor mark.curtis@weddingtonchurch.org

Ruth Cooley, Executive Assistant ruth.cooley@weddingtonchurch.org

Rev. Ed Briggs, Minister of Pastoral Care ed.briggs@weddingtonchurch.org

Sandra McKee, Admin. Assistant sandra.mckee@weddingtonchurch.org

Rev. Rocio Ávila-Ramírez, Missions Pastor rocio.avila@weddingtonchurch.org

Linda Caskey, Financial Assistant linda.caskey@weddingtonchurch.org

Rev. Amy Hutchison, Evangelism Pastor amy.hutchison@weddingtonchurch.org

Lisa Keeler, Admin. Assistant lisa.keeler@weddingtonchurch.org

Dr. Reginald Houze, Director of Music & Arts reginald.houze@weddingtonchurch.org

Tonya Tapp, Admin. Assistant tonya.tapp@weddingtonchurch.org

Charlie Brown, Youth Minister charlie.brown@weddingtonchurch.org

Adell Keen, WCA Principal akeen@weddingtonchristianacademy.org

Rev. Meredith Hinton, Youth Minister meredith.hinton@weddingtonchurch.org

Emily Campbell, WCP Director wcp@weddingtonchurch.org

Carolyn Nelson, Children’s Minister carolyn.nelson@weddingtonchurch.org

Jamie Edmondson, WCP Assistant Director bgcps@weddingtonchurch.org

Rev. Leroy Henry Affiliated United Methodist Clergy

Jan Williams, Mother’s Morning Out Director jan.williams@weddingtonchurch.org

Justin Lineberry, 10:10 Worship Leader

Mike Carver, Facilities Manager mcar1973@earthlink.net

Dr. Robert Ridgell, Organist and Music Associate robert.ridgell@weddingtonchurch.org JoAnn Horstman, Business Administrator joann.horstman@weddingtonchurch.org

Page 12

Kim Veith, Food Service Director kim.veith@weddingtonchurch.org

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram for all the latest from WUMC (@WeddingtonUMC).

Church Office Hours: Monday - Thursday: 8:30 - 5:00 p.m.

Friday: 8:30 - 12:00 p.m.

704-846-1032 Campuses Weddington Campus 13901 Providence Road Weddington, NC 28104 Sanctuary Building and Family Life Center (FLC) Bonds Grove Campus 8215 Bonds Grove Church Rd Waxhaw, NC 28173 Marvin Campus 9914 New Town Rd Marvin, NC 28173 Monroe Campus 520 Engleside St Monroe, NC 28110