I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
–1 Timothy 2:1-2 NIV
November 2016 OUR VISION: To become a disciple making church
OUR MISSION: To make disciples by Loving God, Growing in Christ, and Reaching Out to Others University City United Methodist Church
OUR CORE VALUES:
3835 W WT Harris Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28269 phone: 704-369-8000 fax: 704-369-0481 www.ucumc.org facebook.com/ucumc1 Twitter: @UC_UMC Instagram: @UC_UMC Worship Times: 9:45am - Traditional 11:00am - Contemporary Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00am - 5:00pm Friday 9:00am - 12:30pm
Table of Contents To explore the Celebration Newsletter, click on any of the categories below to go to that page. On each page of the newsletter there is a link on the bottom that says “Back to top”; click that link to return to this page.
Fall Kick-off 1 Fellowship Together 2 Missions 3 REACH 2016 4 New Things at UCUMC 5 For Your Calendar 7
Watch UCUMC Publications for the next Celebration Newsletter publication date. Do you have information you would like to include in the next Celebration Newsletter? We’d love to hear from you! Please contact the head of the ministry area that corresponds with the information you would like to share
Fall Kick-off Block Party!! Everyone loves a good party and UCUMC knows how to throw a great one! On Sunday, Sept. 11th, our church hosted a Block Party for the church and the community… complete with inflatable games, wonderful live music, carnival games and local Food Trucks and vendors! We also had a remembrance of Sept. 11, 2001 by honoring fallen firefighters and police officers. Approximately 700 people attended (many from the Weekday School and community) and everyone had an incredible time of fun, food, fellowship and connection.
FUSION Fall Kick Off Our theme for the year is “NOW”, which is a word that calls for action, so we are challenging ourselves to NOW act, respond, give, worship, love, stand firm, go, serve, live and speak this year! Our scripture for the year is 1 Thessalonians 3:8 – “For NOW we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.” So far this year we’ve talked about how to stand firm in our faith, act, go, and serve!
Welcome to Weekday School! On September 6th and 7th, the UCUMC staff joined together to welcome our preschool families back to school with smiles, balloons, refreshments and gift bags. We want our Weekday School families to know that they are welcome at UCUMC and we hope they will connect with all the activities, programs and fellowship we have to offer.
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Fellowship Together Senior Adult Fraud Prevention Seminar On August 23rd, we held a senior fraud prevention seminar for the community. NC Secretary of State, Elaine Marshall and other speakers helped those in attendance learn how to protect themselves from investment schemes, Medicare fraud, skimmers, online banking issues and more. The event was even featured on Channel 9 news!
FUSION Hayride & Corn Maze FUSION Youth headed out to Country Days Corn Maze in Indian Trail for some fun and fellowship. We played games, raced through the maze, rode the cow train, roasted s’mores and more!
Fall Small Groups Our fall small groups included new Wednesday night groups on finances, parenting, DivorceCare, and an Advent Study. Plus we kicked off a new Disciple Fast Track group on Sunday evenings. Look for some exciting groups coming this spring focused on topics like marriage and racial reconciliation. We are always looking for people who like to lead and encourage to be facilitators. Contact Michele Travis for more information on groups (mtravis@ucumc.org).
Veterans’ Appreciation Event We are excited to have hosted guest speaker, Clebe McClary Lt. USMC (Retired), for our first Veterans’ Appreciation Event. Clebe McCLary is a Vietnam Veteran & Inspirational Speaker who was awarded three Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star, and the Silver Star for his valor. During his tour of duty in Vietnam with the Marines, Lt. McClary suffered the loss of one eye, his left arm, and subsequently underwent 33 operations to retain useage of the rest of his body. Clebe McClary is a living example of “Giving what it takes.” The Celebration Choir sang and the Mallard Creek High School JROTC Presented the colors. Lt. McClary’s message of courage, determination, and dedication was filled with laughter, inspiring stories, and encouragement.
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Missions We had an incredible year in missions at University City United Methodist Church! We sent missionaries from our church to Nicaragua, Mexico (twice!), West Virginia, South Carolina, Cameroon, as well as a number of local projects here in Charlotte. Additionally we supported on-going missionaries and their efforts in Honduras, Indiana, and Russia. As a church we were able to invest over $100,000 in outreach and missions efforts as a result of last year’s REACH missions conference, and if you would like to read more, Click Here to see our comprehensive presentation detailing where and how those dollars were allocated. We continue to hear stories of how God is using UCUMC to impact lives around the corner and around the world; you’ll get a chance to hear many of those stories in videos to be shown all next year, but we’d like to hear from you too! If you have a testimony of how God is using you in outreach, please email me at esuddarth@ucumc.org. Thanks for being a church that invests in God’s kingdom all over the world. All praise to Him who is doing more through us than we could ask or imagine! Eli Suddarth – Outreach Director
Mexico Mission Trip – July 8-14 Ten youth and 2 adults traveled to Mazatlan, Mexico, in partnership with Back2Back Ministries, to serve several children’s homes through construction projects, interactions with the children and more!
Middle School Summer Serve – July 18-22 Over 30 middle school students participated in a week of service called Summer Serve. We partnered with organizations like Samaritan’s Feet, Urban Ministry Center, Mission Society of St. Andrew, Crisis Assistance and more to serve the Charlotte community. We also spent a day serving at UCUMC by doing some cleaning around campus and for the Week Day School.
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REACH 2016 University City UMC’s second annual REACH conference was a great week filled with fellowship and fun for our congregation and missionary guests. REACH 2016 brought over 20 missionary organizations into our church to share how their calling is changing the lives of others around the corner and around the world. Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” While working to fulfill the calling of Acts 1:8, we were able to hear from missionaries in each named area: Crisis Assistance and the Edge Institute represented our Jerusalem. Gate Pregnancy Center, The Commission Project, Red Bird Ministry, Beds for Kids, and CRU represented our Judea. Present Age Ministries, Society of St. Andrew, and Samaritan’s Feet represented our Samaria. And Back2Back, the International Leadership Institute, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Friends of Barnabas, The Hope Project, United Methodist Volunteers in Missions, and the Dulin Family (with YWAM) represented our Ends of the Earth. We also had the opportunity to partner with Stop Hunger Now to pack over 30,000 meals for our day of service during REACH 2016. These meals have since been shipped to Nicaragua to feed orphan and at-risk children through the ORPHANetwork. This in-country network feeds over 18,000 children each day. God is good! At the conclusion of the week, the missions committee came together to tally over 100 faith promises totaling $101,322 for the upcoming year. We also received more than 100 life commitments to volunteer with 30+ missionary organizations. What an incredible blessing! With these life commitments and faith promise donations, we will be able to continue our effort in supporting local ministries such as the backpacks for local school children, Room in the Inn, and Loaves & Fishes as well as short-term mission trips such as Harbor Light in WV, Back2Back in Mexico, and a partnership with the International Leadership Institute. We look forward to watching our congregation grow in missions each year and sharing the stories of God’s work as a result of that growth. We will continue in prayer for our missionary partners so that they may have the courage and strength to continue spreading the gospel to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the Ends of the Earth. And together, we can all celebrate the mighty work of our Lord as we reach around the corner and reach around the world! FUSION REACH Event with Samaritan’s Feet The youth of UCUMC participated in REACH in many ways! We carried flags, sang at the kick off, packed meals at the Stop Hunger Now event, and had our own time of missions focus and dedication. We partnered with Samaritan’s Feet for a shoeless night at FUSION, where we collected new shoes to donate, played games with our feet, did missions projects, worshiped, washed each other’s feet, and committed to give to and serve in missions!
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New Things at UCUMC New Members We have been truly blessed by our New Members in 2016. Here are the people who have joined UCUMC this year!
Nancy alexander
Allen & susan Farmer
Mallory Blakely
Anne & Jeremy Churchill
Brent & Laurie Fuller
Teresa Grimshaw
(pictured with son Cole)
Linda Smith
Katie Suddarth (Pictured with husband Eli)
Tammy Cozad
(pictured with husband Chad & Daughter Hailey)
Jesse & Jacqueline Reisinger (children Farynn & Fynn)
Jessica & Scott Wilson (daughter Julia)
Not Pictured: Emylya Boateng, Paul & Karen Hayes, Kathy Hulla, Matthew Lewis & Alison Vernay, Megan O’Brien, Sandy Sizemore, Kim Weaver, Josleyn Wright.
Our final Membership Class of the year begins November 14th at 6:30pm and runs four consecutive weeks. We would love to discuss more with you your interest in joining UCUMC as a member! Email esuddarth@ucumc.org for info or to register for our November Membership Class!
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New Things at UCUMC (cont.) Wednesday Night Live - www.ucumc.org/live Wednesday Night Live has given us all a reason to celebrate for sure! I could write and tell you about all the classes, meals, service projects, kids programs, the numbers of people on average who attend, etc. but that would be so far from what God would want to say to you about Wednesday nights. Greater than the numbers and “the what” of Wednesday Night’s is the Kingdom impact being experienced. Simply put, people’s lives are being changed and impacted by one thing—His Presence! We set out with a purpose for Wednesday’s to serve the community in providing a good meal both physically and spiritually (and that we have done) but God…seeing the intention of our heart has blessed us far above anything we ever could have imagined (Eph. 3:20-21). In short, it is not about what we do, rather it is about impacting our community for the Kingdom of God… seeing and serving those He places in our midst regardless of where they are in their journey and for that I celebrate! Now, “finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Cor. 13:11)…And that encompasses what we have witnessed and experienced during WNL. Come join us and bring someone with you—you won’t regret it!! For Christ and His Kingdom - Carri Killian, Evangelism Coordinator Stephen Ministry - Click Here to learn more. We are excited to begin Stephen Ministry at UCUMC! Stephen Ministry is the one-to-one lay caring ministry that equips and empowers lay caregivers (called Stephen Ministers) to provide high-quality, confidential, Christcentered care to people who are hurting. Stephen Ministers are congregation members trained to offer high-quality, one-to-one Christian care to people going through tough times. A Stephen Minister usually provides care to one person at a time, meeting with that person once a week for about an hour. Twice a month, Stephen Ministers gather with their Stephen Leaders for supervision and continuing education. A new training class for Stephen Ministers will begin in late January 2017. The Holy Spirit may be calling you to the joy, commitment, growth, meaning, training, service, and care of being a Stephen Minister. Pray for God’s guidance as you consider this opportunity. For more information, contact Drew Nivens, 704-933-3194 or dnivens1@carolina.rr.com. Applications to begin this process are available in the church office. New Metro District Superintendent & Western NC Conference Bishop UCUMC was honored to host the installation service for both the new UMC Metro District Superintendent and the new UMC Western NC Conference Bishop: On July 31st, UCUMC hosted the installation service for Mark Andrews, UMC Metro District Superintendent. Andrews service as pastor of St. Luke UMC in Hickory for 5 years and ten years at First UMC, Belmont are among his five appointments in the conference. He is a graduate of Greensboro College (1978) and Duke Divinity School (1986). On October 23rd, UCUMC hosted the installation service for Paul Leeland, Bishop of the UMC Western NC Conference. He was elected to the episcopacy in 2008 and has been the bishop of the Alabama-West Florida Conference for the past eight years. Bishop Leeland, 67, is originally from North Carolina and a graduate of North Carolina Wesleyan, Duke Divinity School, and NC State University. Prior to his election in 2008, he served in the NC Conference for 33 years following a stint as Director of Family Counseling in Atlanta after completing seminary. Just prior to his election to the episcopacy, Leeland was the superintendent for the Goldsboro District in the NC Conference.
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For Your Calendar Nov 11-13 - FUSION Fall Retreat - We are taking 101 youth and courageous adult leaders! Please pray for this time of fellowship and spiritual renewal! Nov 13 - Sew & Sews Open House | 11am-2pm in Room 120 - Get a head start on your holiday shopping with hand-made items and unique jewelry pieces. Proceeds from your purchases help support UCUMC’s Building Fund. Nov 14 - Membership Class begins | 6:30-8pm, 4 weeks - Childcare available upon request. Contact Eli Suddarth to register: esuddarth@ucumc.org. Nov 16 - Thanksgiving Meal | 5:15pm - We will be sharing a Thanksgiving Meal as a church family and we need volunteer cooks! Turkeys will be provided; sides and desserts are needed. Please contact Carri Killian, Evangelism Coordinator, at ckillian@ucumc.org if you are interested in helping. Nov 16 - Parenting Speaker Series | 6:30p in the Chapel - Join us for Parenting with a Purpose. Click Here to register (not required but helpful) Nov 19 - DivorceCare Holiday Event | 9am-12pm - Are you worried about surviving the holidays after a separation or divorce? Attend this class and learn how to deal with the many emotions you will be facing, helpful tips for surviving social events and ways to give your kids a good holiday experience. Click Here to register. Nov 19 - Hurricane Relief Workday - Join us as we partner with UMVIM and UMCOR relief efforts in the Lumberton, NC area. All volunteers 18+ are welcome. Click Here to sign up. Nov 20 - OCC Shoebox Dedication (during worship) - last day to return filled shoeboxes to UCUMC. Nov 20 - Advent Decorating | 3-5pm - All ages welcome. Contact Matt to sign up: mguild@ucumc.org. Nov 20 - BINGO Bake Sale, 5:30-7:30pm in the Fellowship Hall - Bring your family and friends out for a fun night of BINGO and an auction of delicious baked goods! Click Here for more information and to sign up. Proceeds benefits the Youth-Sponsored Christmas Store, a mission outreach to families in our community that need help with Christmas . Nov 23 - No Wednesday Night Live Nov 24-25 - Church Office Closed (Thanksgiving) Nov 27 - Advent Begins Dec 2 & 3 - UCUMC Christmas Musical | 7:30pm in the Sanctuary Dec 5 - Room in the Inn 2016-2017 season begins - Each Monday night (Dec - Mar) UCUMC hosts homeless neighbors from Urban Ministry Center, offering them dinner, showers, and a safe place to sleep. Click Here to see how you can be a part of this great ministry. Dec 10 - FUSION Christmas Store - Click Here to see how you can help! Dec 14 - WAMC Christmas Concert | 6:30pm in the Sanctuary Dec 18 - Children’s Nativity - combined worship service at 10:30am Dec 18 - Christmas PRE-Eve at 6:30pm Dec 24 - Christmas Eve Services: 4pm - Children/Family; 6pm - Traditional Service Dec 25 - Combined Christmas Morning Worship at 10:30am Dec 26-27 - Church Office Closed (Christmas) Jan 1, 2017 - 9:45am & 11:00am Worship Services Jan 2, 2017 - Church Office Closed
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