From the Pastor… (Page 12)

From the Pastor… (Page 12)

Serving the Community

JANUARY 20, 2021 Dear First Church Family, My prayers remain with you during this time, and I covet yours as well.  Though our world still reels from the COVID onslaught and seems divided to a magnitude I haven’t experienced before; every day I am reminded of the powerful presence of Almighty God and the hope brought to us through the gift of our Savior. Last week, I was honored to be a part of a number of people gathered in-front of our hospital to encourage our health…

News from Pastor

JANUARY 13, 2021 Dear First Church Family, I pray that you are in good health and spirits, and that you are continuing to pray for our nation and world. God is being seen in and through so many good things that are happening. Remember that our Mission Statement is: “to glorify God as we mold, nurture, and serve as disciples of Jesus Christ.” Our modeling of that statement has never been needed more. One of the most beloved and recited of all Scriptures is…

Spirit of Unity

JANUARY 8, 2021 Friday Morning First Church Family, On Wednesday, before I was aware of the horrific events in our nation’s capital, I wrote my Newsletter letter to you that was emailed yesterday. So much has happened since then. The events in Washington, D.C. were despicable, violent acts of terror and tyranny. Our nation is broken as never before in my lifetime, and we are all grieving the presence of division, distrust, and hatred. As followers of Christ, we denounce…

January Message

JANUARY 7, 2021  First Church Family,      I pray this newsletter finds you in good health and spirits. What Samaritan’s Purse did at our hospital is amazing, though it’s concerning that Caldwell and the surrounding counties needed the extra space for COVID patients. Please be cautious and stay safe!     The church year, which began with the first Sunday in Advent in late November, moves quickly through Christmas and Epiphany (this past  Sunday.) Immediately, it jumps thirty years to the Baptism of the LORD…

Uncertain Times

Dear First Church Family,                                                                                                                                                                                     I pray that you are persevering during this uncertain time. Not being able to actually be with you is taking its toll on me, as I imagine, it is on you. Our staff surprised me with pictures of many, many of your smiling faces on chairs in the CLC last Sunday during worship, and has done the same in the Sanctuary this week. I love it, but I miss the…

Easter Message

Dear First Church Family, We have been going through tremendous difficulty, both in our country and around the world, due to the Coronavirus. Our prayers are with the thousands of people who have contracted the virus, and whose lives have been lost. Our whole world has changed. Businesses have shut down; numerous cancellations of events we took for granted only a few short weeks ago have taken place; and our worship services have been altered dramatically. Yet, I remind you…

Easter News

FUMC Family, Grace and peace to you from the Risen Christ and our church. It is a blessing to be able to worship together with the use of technology provided for us by the Broyhill Family Foundation in honor of our Allene Broyhill Stevens. We would love to hear from you about your experience of that. And if you are finding it of benefit, why not consider inviting friends and family to do the same? Our Church office will continue…

Restored

First Church Family, It’s been a challenging week for all of us, as we abide by the principles/suggestions that have been provided for us during this time. Our prayers go out to our healthcare providers, who are risking their own health on the front line of our community and world’s war against the Coronavirus. There are many persons in our church and our church’s extended family who are right there helping to diagnose, treat, and save the lives of people across…

Sermon Series: Restored

Ever feel worn down, discouraged, or broken? From time to time, we all do!  It’s part of being human. God has an answer when we are in dark times. Join us on Sundays (February 23 through April 12) during the cold, dark, rainy days of winter to learn how we can be: “Restored” by God.
fumc-dome-sunset-lenoir

United Methodist News

Dear First Church Family, A public announcement was made last Friday about 16 United Methodist leaders across the world who, together, will make a proposal to the United Methodist governing board, the General Conference, in May of 2020, that would allow unhappy churches on the extreme right or left to leave the denomination.  In my opinion, I don’t see that including or affecting us in a major way, other than making the formal United Methodist Church smaller; but we will…