FUMC Newsletter

The scripture Lesson for this Sunday Is from Luke 19:1-10

1  He entered Jericho and was passing through it. 2 A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax-collector and was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.’ 

6 So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. 7 All who saw it began to grumble and said, ‘He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.’ 8 Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, ‘Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.’ 9 Then Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.’

 

Dear FUMC Family,

Many of you are participating in our church-wide Sunday School lesson on The Treasures of the Transformed Life, based on the book of that name by Rev. John Ed Mathison. I am excited that so many of you are taking part, and the feedback I have received thus far has been very positive. If you haven’t been able to join us, the study is on the commitment we should offer to better follow Jesus Christ and to be faithful members of His church. While I have seen a high degree of commitment within our congregation since I arrived, it never hurts to be reminded of what faithfulness requires of each of us and to then take a personal inventory, asking ourselves how faithful we are to our Lord and His church.

Toward that end, you will find something added in your worship bulletin this Sunday. It is something you may not have seen in quite a while. I’m told they were once routine here at FUMC but haven’t been utilized in a number of years. Even if you have seen one recently, it may look different than you may remember. It is a pledge card. So that you won’t be taken by surprise when you see it this Sunday, I am including a copy of the card in this week’s newsletter.

How is it different from pledge cards you received in years past? Well, this pledge card isn’t all about money. It is about the five things we all promised to do when we joined the United Methodist Church, to support the church with our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness. This pledge card speaks to each of these. John Ed’s study looks at these promises we have all made as members and allows us to assess our effectiveness in each one. This pledge card is a tool you can use to evaluate your current faithfulness and to plan your faithfulness into 2026 and beyond.

I realize some folks might find this threatening, like I am trying to put you on the spot. That is the last thing I want to do! I will never see your pledge card. Unless you share it, no one else will see it either. You can complete it for yourself and for your family’s household, but once you place it in the envelope, it will be known only to you and God. Our plan is to return it to you next autumn so that you can again assess your faithfulness and prayerfully consider your commitment in 2027.

You will receive this card in worship this Sunday. I ask you and your family to pray over it together. Then complete the card. Put it in the included envelope, seal the envelope, and sign the envelope so that we can return it to you next year. We will gather the sealed envelopes in worship on Sunday, November 23, the Sunday before Thanksgiving which is also known as Christ the King Sunday. Celebrating Christ with Thanksgiving seems like the perfect time to pledge our faithfulness!

Please understand that turning in a pledge card so that it can be returned to you won’t be an empty gesture. I believe the very act of prayerfully completing the card will spur us on toward a stronger commitment. By pledging this commitment, I believe we might see each member supporting the church in all five avenues of giving: our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. By prayerfully completing these pledge cards, we will be asking God to work powerfully through us. Imagine the good we can do for God and God’s Kingdom when we commit ourselves to His work in this way!

So, begin to pray now for God’s power to help you make and keep these important promises, these promises which each of us as members have actually already made. God’s Kingdom will benefit, our church and community will benefit, and you will benefit as you receive the treasures of a transformed life.

The Lord be with you!

Rev. Bill Roberts

 

Thank You!

On behalf of our staff, I want to thank the Staff Parish Relations Committee and the entire FUMC family for treating us to a Staff Appreciation Luncheon on Tuesday, October 28th. We enjoyed a wonderful meal at The Parcel Exchange in Rutherfordton, and shared lots of stories and laughter. It is always a blessing to be appreciated, but it is also a blessing to serve God and this amazing congregation!

Rev. Bill Roberts and your FUMC Staff

 

Church Calendar

  • Combined Sunday School Classes – All Sunday School classes will meet together through Sunday, November 23, at 9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Pastor Bill will be leading this church wide study. Books are available now.
  • Dementia Caregivers Support Group meets on the first Tuesday of the month beginning on Tuesday, November 4, at 5:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
  • The Endowment Committee will meet Tuesday, November 4, at 6:00 p.m. in the Men’s Bible Study Classroom.
  • SPRC Meeting – Tuesday, November 4, at 6:30 p.m. in the upstairs conference room.
  • Tennis Shoe Ministry – This Saturday, November 8, at 8:30 a.m. at Hibbett Sports in Forest City. We will invite children from the Rutherford County Schools to join us at Hibbett Sports in Forest City where they will have the opportunity to select a new pair of shoes.  Church members are needed to meet, greet, and help kids try on shoes.  Please contact the church office if you are interested in participating in this outreach.
  • The Administrative Council will meet this coming Monday, November 10, at 6:30 p.m. in the Men’s Bible Study Classroom.
  • The More or Less Circle will meet this coming Tuesday, November 11, at 11:00 a.m. in the Parlor. Please bring razors and/or conditioner for Abounding Grace.
  • The Grace Circle will meet this coming Tuesday, November 11, at 1:00 p.m. in the Men’s Bible Study Classroom.
  • The Church Offices will be closed this coming Tuesday, November 11, for the Veterans’ Day Holiday.
  • Wonderful Wednesday – Even more wonderfulness happens next Wednesday, November 12, at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Please call the office to RSVP at 828-245-6446. Cost is still $5/person, $15/family.
  • Baby Shower for our church office administrator, Rachel Crosswhite, during Wonderful Wednesday on November 12. Rachel and her husband are expecting a boy.
  • Endowment Committee meeting – Next Thursday, November 13, at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Application packets will be available this Sunday morning, November 9.
  • The WoW Factor Senior event for November happens on Wednesday, November 19. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall at 11:00 a.m. to pack Thanksgiving Boxes. The residents of Brookdale will join us for lunch at 11:30. Afterwards, we will venture upstairs to the sanctuary for a hymn sing with the organ.
  • Worship Committee Meeting Thursday, November 20, at 6:30 p.m. in the Men’s Bible Study Classroom.
  • Decorating the Church for Advent – Sunday. November 23, from 4-6 p.m.
  • Community Thanksgiving Service at Rutherfordton Presbyterian Church on Sunday, November 23 at 7:00 p.m.
  • FUMC Community Meal – Monday, November 24, from 4:30-6 p.m.
  • The Church Offices will be closed from Tuesday, November 25, at 12:00 Noon through Friday, November 28, for the Thanksgiving Holiday.
  • FUMC-ERHS Baking Ministry – happens on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays from 8:45-10:45 a.m. in the kitchen.
  • The Mountain Dulcimer Group – taught by Gene and Anna Feagin, meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 10-11:30 a.m. in the Choir Room. If you are interested in joining, please contact the church office.
  • Dementia Caregivers Support Group meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 5:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
  • Choir Practice is on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the choir room. If you would like to join this group and sing with the choir on Sundays, please see Jane. 
  • The Brookdale Visitation Team meets at Brookdale at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. This is a special interactive time of fun and worship for the residents. Call the church office for more information.
  • Handbells rehearse on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. If you would like to join this group, please see Jane. Rehearsal at 6:30 on November 12 for Wonderful Wednesday.
  • He-Brews Coffee and Conversation meets on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. at Hope House Coffee Co. 1066 S. Broadway in Forest City. Our current study is called How to Live Purposefully in Uncertain Times.

 

FUMC Youth

  • This Saturday, November 8 – Shoe Drive at Hibbett Sports at 8:30 a.m.
  • This Sunday, November 9 – Regular UMYF at 5:00 p.m.
  • Next Sunday, November 16 – Regular UMYF at 5:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, November 23 – Meet at 4:00 p.m. to help decorate the church for Advent. Dinner afterwards.
  • Sunday, November 30 – No UMYF

 

Income and Expenses 

Weekly Budget Needs: $8,479.33

Tithes and Offerings Oct. 27-Nov. 2 – $8,018.50

Expenses Oct. 27-Nov. 2 – $17,522.18

Received YTD – $325,867.17

Budget needs YTD – $364,611.19

 

Worship Helpers

This Sunday, November 9

Lector – Jessica Hernandez

Finance – David Eaker, Mike Gavin

Greeters – Barbara Millwood, Lois Hasty, Russell Spicer

Ushers – Marc Duncan, Russ Garmon

Head Usher – David Eaker

 

Next Sunday, November 16

Lector – Roger Lowe

Finance – Chris Cross, Tim Ridenhour

Greeters – Keely Somerset, Jessica Anderson

Ushers – Steve Jones, Jimmy Okpych

Head Usher – David Eaker

 

The food item for Yokefellow Sept.-Dec. is any variety of canned beans. Please bring items to the office.

 

November Birthdays

Brad Huckabee           11/05

Robert Wolf                11/05

Lynda Collins             11/06

Denise Gavin              11/06

Caleb Landis               11/07

Lisa Roper                  11/07

Samantha Flack          11/08

Meriwynn Jones         11/10

Tim Ridenhour           11/14

Alyssa Toney              11/14

Natalie Flack               11/15

Jason Morgan             11/19

Steven Jones               11/20

Gary Thompson          11/20

Lexie Still                   11/22

David Eaker                11/23

Don Hastings              11/23

Skyland Hoyle            11/24

Matt Hopper               11/25

Emily Thompson         11/25

Shannon Sims            11/26

Roger Lowe                11/27

Austin Street               11/28

Eliza Huckabee            11/30

 

The FUMC Newsletter

This page on the church website is the permanent home of the newsletter. Text-to-speech apps will work on this page. Older newsletters are archived, and the current newsletter will always be at this address. This mobile-friendly format is much more accessible and allows for immediate updates to information. Feel free to check by as often as you like. The goal is for major updates to happen on schedule by Wednesday, and a print edition will still be sent via US Mail to those who request it. Please let the church office know if you no longer wish to receive the printed copy.

May the Peace of the Lord, and His Blessings be with you all, and we hope to see you on Sunday!

Services are livestreamed on our YouTube Channel.