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Volume 39 Issue 14 April 14, 2010 |
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"Should We Change the Sunday Morning Schedule?" When I first arrived at Noel Church last summer, I had the privilege of meeting most of you in small-group gatherings in your homes. I listened with great joy as you shared how much Noel means to you, what your concerns were, and what hopes and dreams you have for this great church. Without fail, every group I met with asked about the Sunday morning schedule. Specifically, how the overlapping services work well in some respects, and present some challenges in other respects. Most of you, some 225 active adults, expressed concern that the senior minister leaves during the middle of the traditional service, and arrives late for the contemporary service. It is true that this schedule works well in some ways, and at the same time, it makes it very difficult in many other ways. Therefore, because so many people at Noel have asked if we could take a look at some other possibilities for the Sunday morning schedule, I have asked a small group of staff members and church members to meet with me to think through as many other options as we can, and then present those options to the Church Council on Tuesday, April 20, at 7:00 p.m. In order to be as efficient as possible, I have asked only a small group to do the initial work of coming up with other schedule options along with the pros and cons of each option. The group consists of the staff members and church members who are directly responsible for all three worship services and Sunday morning activities, as well as one person from each Sunday School class, the choir, the band, and the nursery area. (The schedule affects many things!) After we have finished this initial work of evaluating and thinking of other options, we will present those options to the Church Council for discussion on April 20. At that time, we as a Church Council might have other options, and those will be discussed as well. It will be the decision of the Church Council as to whether we keep our current schedule or adopt a different schedule. However, even if you are not a member of the Church Council, I hope you will attend the Church Council meeting on the 20th to give your input. ALL WHO GATHER THAT EVENING WILL HAVE VOICE AND VOTE. I'll see you for part of the service this Sunday, Flint |
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Ministry moments
BUTTERFLIES RELEASED IN TRICKETT GARDEN
On Sunday, April 11, Samantha Courtney, pictured above, kneeling, along with her grandmother, Carol Grafton, released four butterflies in Noel's Trickett Garden that she had raised from caterpillars. Samantha thought releasing the butterflies was a nice way to honor the memory of those persons memorialized in the garden, as butterflies emerging from their chrysalises are representative of a new birth and a resurrected Savior. She named the butterflies: Champion (first to emerge), Flower (for spring), Son (for Jesus, Son of God) and Ooompah-Lumpah (the lazy one who was renamed Hosanna on Palm Sunday when he came alive after she thought him to be dead). The first three butterflies released flew off into the beautiful blue morning sky. The fourth butterfly perched on Samantha's finger before finally resting and feeding from a lovely red azalea. One more chrysalis remains to be "hatched" and his name is Chase. |
NOEL NEWS Church council-Ellis Brown (l), Council Chairperson, leads the Church Council meeting that was held on March 23. The next Church Council will be Tuesday, April 20, 7:00-8:00 p.m. All members of the congregation are encouraged and welcome to come.
Native American ministries Sunday- Your generous gifts on Native American Ministries Sunday will support Scholarships for Native Americans, Native American ministries within the annual conference, and the expansion of the Native American Urban Initiative related to the General Board of Global Ministries. Please give this Sunday as you are able.SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE-It is time for Noel members who are students to apply for scholarships for the 2010-2011 academic year. Noel members who are seniors graduating from high school or undergraduate college students may apply. Applications for non-Centenary students may be picked up from the church office and are due back no later than June 1. Centenary students must apply through the Financial Aid Office at Centenary. SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS NEEDED-Members are encouraged to make donations to the General Scholarship Fund. We always have more students applying to schools other than Centenary and therefore more funds are needed. When you plan to make a donation for a memorial or honorarium, please keep the Scholarship Fund in mind. second mile Campaign Update-We have received $77,710 in cash and $16,393 in pledges totaling $94,103 towards our $100,000 goal. It's not too late to contribute to the campaign which ends May 2; if you need any information or a second-mile pledge card, please contact the church office. Addresses worth noting-There are three new email addresses related to Noel ministries, please make a note of them for future correspondence. For items related to men's ministries, email men@noelumc.org, for women's ministries, email women@noelumc.org and for congregational care, email careteam@noelumc.org. You may also contact the church office at 221-5207. |
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Gifts of the spirit
By warren Clifton
Once there was a sculptor famous for his carvings of animals. Of all the animals he carved, his elephants were the most lifelike and inspiring. One day an art student came to him and asked him the secret to creating such beautiful elephants. "The answer," he said, "Is simple. You just get a block of marble and chip away anything that doesn't look like an elephant."
One of our church members, Bill Stevenson, is just such an artisan. He works with slate and wood. Recently he used his lathe and other tools to create a communion chalice as a gift to me. The picture doesn't do his handiwork justice. It is an absolutely beautiful gift - truly one of a kind. It's almost perfect.
Many people believe Jesus was a carpenter. The Gospel of Mark says: "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary..." (6:3). Matthew has a slightly different wording: "Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary?" (13:55). Actually little is known about the time between Jesus as a boy in the temple and Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist. Even the Apostles' Creed skips most of the story: "born of a virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate" is a broad stroke of the brush to say the least.
In the Gospels, Jesus is called a tekton, a Greek word that meant not merely a carpenter skilled in making cabinets or furniture, but a designer, construction engineer, or architect. A tekton could build a house, construct a bridge, or design a temple. (Starbird, Margaret. Magdalene's Lost Legacy. 2003. Rochester: Bear & Co. p. 53)
I love the way Ephesians 2:10 in the Amplified Bible puts it: "For we are God's own handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, born anew that we may do those good works which God planned beforehand for us, taking paths which He prepared ahead of time, that we should walk in them living the good life which He made ready for us to live."
The sculptor chips away anything that doesn't look like an elephant. Bill Stevenson chips away anything that doesn't look like a communion chalice. Jesus Christ chips away anything that doesn't look like Him, until He is revealed in us and through us ... going on to perfection. |
OUR LIFE IN CHRIST
Remember in your prayers our known ill: Walter Anderson (Frankie Norton's dad), John & Sugar Clary, Carla Culpepper (Jo Anne Culpepper's sister-in-law), Mary Dupree (Ellyce Thomas' mom), Dan Fortuna (Dave Fortuna's brother), Herb Goad, Roger Gray (Beverly Gray's son), Mollie Griffith, Billie Haacker, George Harrel (Bonnie Watkins' cousin), Bill Hightower, David Lloyd (Susan Harrison's nephew), Norma Morgan, Laurie Moffett, Art Reasor, Dora C. Richard (Mary Margaret Richard's mother-in-law), Thelma Rhodes, Glenn Richardson, Libby Roby, Joan Sistrunk, Claud Spence, Jackie Thurmon, Dorothy Tooley, Betty Whittington and Herman Williamson. |
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CHURCH COUNCIL, Tuesday, April 20, 7:00 p.m., Fellowship Hall. All members of the congregation are encouraged and welcome to come.
SOUPER SATURDAY, Saturday, April 24, 9:00 a.m., Kitchen. Join in this ministry that warms the heart and soul by providing soup to those who are homebound. Volunteers are needed to provide soup and to help deliver and package meals. Contact the church office, 221-5207, to sign up.
BLOOD DRIVE, Sunday, April 25, 8:00 a.m., Gym. Come give the gift of life!
CAFÉ NOEL, Wednesday, April 28, 5:00-7:00 p.m., Rear Fellowship Hall
 FAITH IS BLOOMING" WOMEN'S EVENT, Thursday, April 29, 5:30 p.m., Fellowship Hall. Noel Women's Ministry and Journey of Sisters invite you to enjoy a light supper and see how faith is blooming. Free admission and childcare with reservations by Monday, April 26.
SPRING RING & ICE CREAM FLING, Sunday, May 2, 4:00 p.m., Fellowship Hall. Join us for an afternoon of fun! We will enjoy hearing all three of our handbell choirs dazzle us with their techniques and beautiful sounds. Then hang around for some delicious ice cream with all the toppings! This event is free and open to the public. A nursery will be available.
NCAP SUMMER MUSIC & ART CAMP, "Through the Looking Glass," Monday, June 21, through Friday, June 25, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Noel Church. If you are a child who has finished any grades between Kindergarten-5th grade and are looking for something fun to do this summer, this is the camp for you! View demos by professional musicians and artists, enjoy plenty of singing, playing, and having fun as we conclude the week with a performance and art from Disney's "Alice in Wonderland"; all this, and daily snacks too! The cost is $50.00 per child, with need-based scholarships available. Call Erin Marshall-Fort at (318) 573-5913.
MISSION POSSIBLE KIDS CAMP, Monday, June 28, through Friday, July 2, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Join us for this top secret camp for kids who have finished grades, 3, 4, or 5. Cost is $20.00. Visit our website at www.noelumc.org to register or contact the church office at 221-5207.
 CALLING ALL GALACTIC CADETS! If you know a child between 3 years old and the 5th grade, have them join us on an out-of-this-world space adventure. The starship, Galactic Praise, will blast off on a special mission, July 19-23, 2010. Your mission will include spacewalking through the Good News Galaxy, art projects at Cosmic Crafts, singing moon tunes, and exploring science at the Orbital Observatory. Look for further Mission Control announcements and register on-line at www.noelumc.org.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
9:15 a.m.-Sunday School*
9:15 a.m.-Library Open
9:30 a.m.-Early Christian Awareness 2
10:15 a.m.-Early Christian Awareness 1
10:15 a.m.-Café Noel
10:30 a.m.-Traditional Worship Service*
11:00 a.m.-Contemporary Worship Service*
3:00 p.m.-Youth Band Rehearsal
4:00 p.m.-Youth Choir Rehearsal
4:30 p.m.-Companions in Christ
5:00 p.m.-VBS Planning Meeting
5:00 p.m.-Family Music GYMBOREE 2
5:00 p.m.-Youth Nights!
Monday, 19, 2010
12:45 p.m.-AA Meeting
3:00 p.m.-Noel Community Arts Music Lessons
6:15 p.m.-Youth Handbells
7:00 p.m.-Boy Scout Troop 15
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
6:15 a.m.-Pickleball
8:30 a.m.-Staff Chapel
9:00 a.m.-Program Staff Meeting
9:30 a.m.-Adult Learning Center Class
10:00 a.m.-UMW Circle #1
12:45 p.m.-AA Meeting
3:00 p.m.-Noel Community Arts Music Lessons
5:30 p.m.-SPRC Meeting*
6:00 p.m.-Children's Center Board*
6:00 p.m.-Finance Committee*
6:00 p.m.-Nominations Committee*
6:00 p.m.-Trustees Meeting*
7:00 p.m.-Church Council Meeting*
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
7:00 a.m.-Men's Bible Study
8:00 a.m.-Noel Community Arts
Music Lessons
9:30 a.m.-Adult Learning Center Class
12:45 p.m.-AA Meeting
4:00 p.m.-Noel Care Team
5:30 p.m.-Wheel Throwing Pottery Class
6:00 p.m.-Contemporary Worship Band Rehearsal
6:00 p.m.-Carillon Handbell Rehearsal
7:00 p.m.-Chancel Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, April 22, 2010
9:30 a.m.-Adult Learning Center Class
9:30 a.m.-Adult Learning Center Class
10:00 a.m.-Choral Ensemble
11:30 a.m.-Samaritan Center Meeting
12:45 p.m.-AA Meeting
1:30 p.m.-Joyful Noise Handbell Rehearsal
3:00 p.m.-Noel Community Arts Music Lessons
Friday, April 23, 2010
9:00 a.m.-Older Adult Shopping
12:45 p.m.-AA Meeting
Saturday, April 24, 2010
9:00 a.m.-Souper Saturday
10:00 a.m.-Noel Food Pantry
10:00 a.m.-Hand Building Pottery Class
*Child Care provided |
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