From Pastor Mike
On Wednesday, February 22, millions of believers around the world began a time that is called Lent. It is a season of meditation and contemplation commemorating the 40 days Jesus Christ spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation by Satan, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, before beginning his public ministry. Here, at AUMC, we joined their celebrations by worshipping together and surrendering to the “Imposition of Ashes” to express our commitment and loyalty to God. Lent is a unique time in the life of the church. It is a time of preparation and meditation on our mortality, our sinfulness, the death of Christ that opens the path to salvation, and God’s gift of relationship made real in Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. It is a time of looking forward and getting our hearts ready for the grand celebration of Easter.
The early church used this time as a teaching and training time for new converts to the faith. They were allowed to participate in the church for worship but not allowed to take part in the sacraments of the church. The early church wanted the new converts to have a deep understanding of the significance of the sacraments and the relationship they now shared with God through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Their training consisted of times of listening to older believers and those who had walked with Jesus, times to ask questions of their mentors, prayer was emphasized, as was service and ministry. All this hard work was designed to help them grow a firm and stable foundation in the faith. One can almost sense their joy when that were called into full membership of the church and allowed to join in the sacraments on Easter Sunday.
Here at AUMC, we will be doing some of that training and moving deeper in the foundation of our faith. The Sunday morning sermon will focus on some spiritual disciplines we all need as we grow in our relationships with God. The four topics will be Worship, Scripture Reading and Study, Giving, and Spiritual Friends. Each sermon will focus on how that particular discipline can help us grow deeper in our love for God and stronger in our ministry and service. On March 2, I am beginning a Bible Study on 1 Peter that will help us delve even deeper into the calling God has placed on each believer’s life. As we move closer to Passion week, we will also have some special times of worship. We will celebrate Palm Sunday as a church during morning worship (with palms a waving) and on Maundy Thursday, April 6 at 6:30 PM, the church will gather to share in Holy Communion. We will gather on Easter Sunday to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the gift of relationship offered freely to all who believe. I can hardly wait to celebrate Easter here at AUMC with each of you.
Let’s journey together over these next 40 days and 40 nights. Let’s be open to God’s Spirit as He guides us and open to one another as we share and move forward together!
Mental Health Seminar
The Mental Health meeting will be Wednesday, March 15, at 11:30am in the Fellowship Hall. A light lunch will be provided. We will be discussing dementia and caregivers or those whose loved ones are going through this situation. All are welcome.
Bible Study on 1 Peter
Starting Thursday, March 2nd, Mike will have an 8 week study on 1 Peter, every Thursday at 10am in the Community Room.
Individual Study Books are available for $10/each.
Where We Were Last Month
| Date | Offering Received | Budget Amount Received to Date | Budget Amount Needed to Date | Week# | Sunday School | Worship Attendance |
| 02/05/2023 | $4,084.00 | $28,933.33 | $35,565.48 | 6 | 84 | 107 |
| 02/12/2023 | $4,248.00 | $33,181.33 | $41,493.06 | 7 | 73 | 78 |
| 02/19/2023 | $37,494.04 | $16,377.00 | $47,420.64 | 8 | 73 | 108 |
| 02/26/2023 | $5,340.00 | $42,834.04 | $53,348.22 | 9 | 81 | 101 |
Building Fund
Given in January: $1,820.00
Received to date: $2,925.00
Thank you…
On behalf of my Brother Floyd, who passed away at the age of 95, I would like to thank each one of my Church Families for your thoughtful sympathy cards, Sechrest-Davis Funeral visitation, and prayers for my Family. May God continue to bless all of us at Archdale United Methodist Church.
Sincerely,
Ronnie Hines
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Lunda Stanley
Arbor Terrace
3199 Sweeten Creek
Asheville, NC 28803
Lunda moved in January to assisted living memory care at Arbor Terrace.
March Volunteer Schedules
Nursery Helpers:
March 5 Mary & Rebecca Kidd
March 12 Bobbie Finch & Sandra Hale
March 19 Terry Gates & Kay Nichols
March 26 Lib & James Harris
Worship Leaders:
March 5 Cory Bentley
March 12 Peggy Johnson
March 19 Susan Stewart
March 26 Norman Askew
Memorials
In Memory of Goldie Buchanan
Given by Linda Williams
In Memory of David Gates
Given by Peggy Johnson
In Memory of Nancy Roberts
Given by Peggy Johnson
In Memory of Leonard Stroud
Given by Charles & Vanessa Surles
The Women of Archdale Methodist Church have Apple Crisp available in the church office for $10 each.
03/01 Paul Clausel
03/01 Matthew Connor
03/02 Steve Brown
03/02 Jon Dysinger
03/02 Paige Shores
03/03 Mariah Askew
03/03 Roy Catlett
03/03 Linda Game
03/04 Alex McGavic
03/04 Tara Owens
03/05 Connor Allen
03/05 Trevor Allen
03/05 Debbie Kennedy
03/05 Michael Linthicum
03/05 Tamara Owens
03/07 Donna Smith
03/08 Craig Grimmett
03/08 Blair Hawley
03/08 Jim Johnson
03/10 Rosemarie Foster
03/10 Iris York
03/11 Catherine Fulcher
03/11 Alexandria Sarmiento
03/11 Ethan Simpson
03/12 Rusty Smith
03/13 Sue McDonald
03/13 William Rains
03/13 Kristin Shores
03/14 Jonah Peele
03/14 David Stewart
03/15 Lindsay Byrum
03/15 Alexa Fulcher
03/17 Linda Anderson
03/17 Terry Gates
03/17 Rae Hicks
03/17 Jacob Lowe
03/17 Danny Mann
03/18 Lisa Clausel
03/18 David Skeen, Jr
03/20 Jared Askew
03/20 Cheryl Byerly
03/20 Ethan Dysinger
03/20 Cole Liebscher
03/21 Deidra Colclough
03/22 Tom Holtham
03/22 Sally Hord
03/23 Kyle Barefoot
03/23 Jane Pepper
03/23 Andrew Wilson
03/23 Toni Wray
03/25 Wil Shores
03/26 Maggie Boyle
03/26 Clyde Brown
03/26 Jack Lance
03/26 Sylvia Smith
03/26 Aliene Soule
03/27 Art Johnson
03/28 Jennifer East
03/28 Jake Stewart
03/31 Jaxon Kimmons
03/31 Andrew McGavic
Daylight Saving Time Begins Sunday, March 12th
Make sure to turn your clocks ahead 1 hour before you go to bed on Saturday, March 11th!
Remember our Homebound
Roy Catlett, Debbie Dean, Charles Dobbins, Amelia Evans, Mandy Forrester, Jack Hensley, Wayne McGavic, Jo Parker, Betty Roach, Mary Jean Smith, Jackie Stroud
Our Homebound Members are very important members of our congregation. We would like to remind them they are remembered and thought of. If you would like to send them a birthday card, thinking of you card, or give them a call, this would mean so much to each of our Homebound Members.
March 3 Roy Catlett
35 Hedrick Dr. Thomasville, NC 27360 | 336-474-3805
Please pray for those serving our country.
Matt Cain – US Army (family friend of the McGavics)
Spencer Dyson – US Marines (grandson of Don Miller)
Bryan Hayworth – US Coast Guard (brother of Jami Coggins)
Jospeh Hennessey – US Marines ( nephew & Godson of Steven Durr)
Ginniffer Hobbs – US Navy Sailor ( niece of David McKinney)
Richard Ivy – US Military, Louisiana (Lewis Stroud’s grandson)
Jake Lawrence – US Army (friend of Rebecca Kidd)
Daulton Rogers – US Marines (family friend of the McGavics)
Eric Schneider – Afghanistan (Donn & Rachel Jackson’s son-in-law)
Hailey Tompkins – (friend of Sandy Foster)
Zack Willey – US Army (Chuck & Jane Liebscher’s son-in-law)
“Save us, LORD our God, and bring us back from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.”
Psalm 106:47
MEMBERSHIP
The 2022 Membership & Participation statistical report has been compiled and submitted to the Western North Carolina Conference. Some of the information is included in this newsletter for your information.
– Average Sunday School attendance was 73. We reported 7 Sunday School classes.
– Average attendance at worship was 88.
– Average of those who worship on line was 15 (this was only for 19 Sundays in the 2nd half of 2022.)
– Methodist Mens membership who participated in the men’s ministry was 21.
– United Women in Faith 2022 members was 33.
– The number of persons baptized was 2. We have 71 baptized members.
– We had 55 constituent members at year end.
We began 2022 with 621 members. We gained 3 new members. We had 8 to move their membership. One was moved to membership at WNCC. We had 33 removed by charge conference action and lost 15 due to death. Our year end total membership was 567.
Shirley Cecil
Membership Secretary
CONDOLENCES
– Ronnie Hines, AUMC member, lost his brother, Floyd Rodger Hines on February 5, 2023 at High Point Medical Center. Floyd attended AUMC worship service for several years (2012 thru 2016). A graveside service was held Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at 2pm at Guilford Memorial Park Cemetery by Rev. Morris Little.
– Shelby Dunlap, Archdale United Methodist Church member, lost her son, Michael Leon Dunlap on February 9, 2023 at his home. Leon was the brother of AUMC member, Jason Dunlap. The family received friends on Monday, February 13, 2023 from 12 to 2pm at Cumby Family Funeral Service in Archdale. A private interment was also held that day at the columbarium of Archdale United Methodist Church with Rev. Marty Grainger officiating.
– Kathy Brown, AUMC member, lost her brother, Kenneth Wilson “Coach” Brown, Sr. February 16, 2023 at his home. His memorial service was held Feb. 19, 2023 at Wesleyan Christian Academy Chapel at 3pm with Pastor Ryan Sims and Pastor Chris Thore officiating. His inurnment was private.
Our sympathy, love and thoughts are with those listed and others who have lost someone near and dear to them recently.
It’s not luck….
it’s God’s favor.
John 1:16
From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.
