january 2020 the onne tion - storage.googleapis.com...north alabama and are doing well. aleb is...

The The The CONNECTIONCONNECTIONCONNECTION

OUR MISSION “Love God and Love

our Neighbor”

OUR VISION “Reaching All People

for Christ”

JANUARY 2020

(beginning January 12)

(beginning January 8)

Sundays

9:00 a.m. Sunday School

10:00 a.m. Worship Service

5:30 p.m. Prayers and Praise

Wednesdays

5:15 p.m. Family Night Supper

6:00 p.m. Bible Studies

6:00 p.m. Youth and Children

Nursery Available at all times

Happy New Year! 2020, here we come!

What an exciting time it always seems to be to begin afresh and anew! And

Greystone UMC has a lot going on as we turn the page into a new and beautiful year.

For January, I want us all to learn our new (revised) Church Mission and Vision

Statements. These statements were revised by our Greystone Vision Team and

approved by the Greystone Administrative Council at our December meeting.

First, let me share with you the best definition(s) I have heard thus far regarding these

two statements … because they are not the same. ServeHQ website shared these two

definitions that I feel explains both beautifully: Your Church Mission Statement is

why you exist. Your Church Vision Statement is where you’re going.

Aren’t those great?!?

So as we enter into 2020, I’d like for all of us to learn and embrace why we exist

(Mission) and where we are going (Vision) in 2020, because these two statements set

the course of our Worship, Bible Studies, Fellowship Meals, Monthly Missions and

more!

The Greystone UMC Mission Statement is to “Love God and Love our Neighbor.”

Isn’t that a wonderful purpose statement of why we exist? We exist to love God and

love our neighbor. Awesome, indeed!

The Greystone UMC Vision Statement is “Reaching All People for Christ.” Again,

where are we going? We are going to reach all people for Christ! That’s exciting!

And furthermore, as I was writing this article, I found myself embracing a more

expanded, deeper and personal truth. These are not just great statements for the

Church Family of Greystone UMC – these are great purpose statements for each one

of us as we begin a new year: to reach all people for Christ, loving God and loving

our neighbor.

Have a beautiful New Year beginning! 2020 is going to be exciting as we continue

to be a part of all that God is doing here at Greystone and beyond. I look forward to

sharing this year with you.

“May God grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed.”

(Psalm 20:4)

Love, Pastor T

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Greystone United Methodist Church

January Monthly Mission: Dare to Hope (formerly known as Hope Rising)

Our January Mission and Communion Rail Offering will go to the ministry of Dare to Hope. We have known this ministry as Hope Rising – but even with the recent name change, the needs remain the same: to continue our partnership with this fabulous ministry in bringing the hope of Jesus Christ to women and men in our area who are hurting, helpless, and hopeless due to sexual exploitation (including pornography, dancing, prostitution and sex trafficking). Dare to Hope exists to provide spiritual and emotional support as well as practical solutions that will bring healing and wholeness to the victims of sexual exploitation that will prayerfully be able to break the cycle of abuse and addiction through lasting change that will alter the course of future generations to and for the glory of God.

This month’s Communion Rail will prayerfully help Dare to Hope with their goal of needing a house for women to have a safe place to live, where they can learn to move forward free from their past abuse. In addition to monetary needs, the following list of needed items will help Dare to Hope with their weekly outreach ministry as they visit local low-end motels sharing the Word of God in presence and physical/spiritual/emotional nourishment:

Deodorant (men and women) Body Wash

Paper Towels/Kleenex tissues/Toilet Paper Lysol spray Wet Wipes

Clorox Wipes Crackers/Cookies/Individually Packaged Sweets

Potato Chips/Takis Coffee/Creamer Bottled Water

You can bring these items to the Church anytime in January as well as make a monetary donation anytime this month. Let us all be in tremendous prayer for the many lives touched through Dare to Hope – with the hope of Jesus.

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January 5 Epiphany Sunday

Sunday School 9:00 A.M. Worship Service 10:00 A.M.

(Greeters) Doris Spears/Cornelia Cooper/Olivia Bullard

(Ushers) Bill Hart/Allen Brackin/Bobby Vick/Mike Johnson

K1 KIDZ— Patty Johnson Pre-School—Mary Bullard Nursery—Suzanne Harden

Coffee Nook Nibbles: Susan Kelly

No Evening Service.

January 12 .


(Greeters) Mary Walsh/Priscilla Bird/Caleb Bullard



Coffee Nook Nibbles: Mary Walsh

Prayers and Praise Service 5:30 P.M.

January 19 .


(Greeters) Charm Russler/Gayla Miskell/Madison Bullard



Coffee Nook Nibbles: Allen Brackin


January 26 .


(Greeters) Danielle Atwell/Amory Atwell/Olivia Bullard



Coffee Nook Nibbles: Need Volunteer


O Holy Night, Indeed

What an honor it was to baptize Addelyn

Rae Harrison on Christmas Eve. Addelyn is

the daughter of Taylor and Casey Harrison,

and the sister of Brayden.

Our ladies Bible study will

gather on January 6. The study

for this seven weeks is by

Angela Thomas and it’s called

Stronger, finding hope in fragile

places. God is greater than

every struggle you’ll ever face.

Every single one! Today,

because of Christ, you can live stronger. This seven

session study by Angela Thomas will guide you into

biblical truth so you can live a confident, transformed,

Christ-radiating life marked by His strength!

Any ladies that are interested in coming are welcome!

We need to get books ordered soon so please let

Robyn Robbins, Pam Pilcher, or Patty Johnson know if

you would like them to order you a book!

Look forward to seeing you all!

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Faith-Sharing

An Exciting, Church-Wide Bible Study to begin

January 8th

, 6:00 p.m.

Make plans now to join with your Greystone Faith Family on January 8th for a 9-week Bible Study that promises to help our new year begin just right! An exciting gathering is promised for all of us as

we pursue the importance of faith-sharing beyond the walls of Greystone United Methodist

Church. Maxie Dunnam wrote these words of support for our new Bible Study: "I do not know two

people (Fox and Morris) more equipped for writing of this text. Theology is here, challenge is here, and concern is here, that the world would know Jesus Christ." Each week will be led by 9 of our

brothers and sisters in Christ: Pastor Teresa, Ann Hart, Chris Adkins, Joe Walker, Curt Anderson,

Pam Pilcher, Sue Wilson, Bob Willis, and Charm Russler! Let's bring our new year in together

grounded in Scripture and fellowship each Wednesday night in this exciting way! See you here on

January 8th! (If you would like a book, please let us know so that we can get one ordered for you. Cost: $11.00)

Welcome to Greystone,

Marcia Hustead!

On December 2nd, Greystone UMC was

blessed by our newest member

officially joining our Faith Family:

Marcia Hustead.

Welcome, Marcia!

Please take the time to welcome her as our new sister-in-Christ and invite her to be a part of your small groups and Sunday School Classes! How thankful we are that she chose to make Greystone UMC her Church Home!

6

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R.A.F.T.S. will be

January 21st at Noon

here at the Church.

Bring a friend & a dish to

share. Fried Chicken

will be provided.

Come join us for a time of

Friendship, Laughter and

Fellowship.

Everyone is welcome &

encouraged to come!!!

Contact Shirley Brackin or Jennifer

Hamilton for more information.

Hostesses: TBD

A.R.M.E.D., Greystone's Men's

Ministry, is a ministry for men and boys

of all ages. Their love for Christ unites

them with this ministry about

missions. The men meet the second

Tuesday of every month at 6:30pm in

the church sanctuary for a meal,

fellowship, and planning.

Next Meeting-

January 13th at 6:30 p.m.

Faith Circle is one of our Women’s Groups that

meets every month (second Tuesday) at 9:30

a.m. A brunch and time of devotion is shared

and enjoyed by all.

Grace/Love Circle is another Women’s Group

that meets at Mama Rosa’s on the third Monday

of every month at 6:00 p.m. for dinner,

fellowship and time of devotion.

Christian Women United (C.W.U.) is both of our

Women’s Groups combined. C.W.U. meets

quarterly at the Church for a Covered-Dish

Lunch and time of fellowship.

All women are invited to be a part of these

wonderful gatherings!

Christian Women United Circle Ministry Groups

Donation for Love In Action: Soap Donations for Wesley Place’s store

C.W.U. March 3 at 12 p.m. at church

. FAITH CIRCLE

January 14 at 11:30 a.m.

Grace-Love Circle January 20 at Mama Rosa’s at 6 p.m.


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Greystone UMC Children & Youth News The picture in this month’s article was taken a year ago in Gatlinburg. A lot has happened

with these young people since that Winter Xtreme Conference. Carter turned 16 and has his

driver license (watch out for him when you are on the road!). Tori and Hannah have moved to

north Alabama and are doing well. Caleb is playing middle school football. Olivia is very active

at Dothan High and is excelling in ROTC. Addison is now a JV Cheerleader and Madison is

preparing for her transition into the Youth Group. And Joshua continues to be a blessing to us

all. We have a busy group of kids here at Greystone, but they don’t let their activities get in

the way of church. They are a small but dedicated group who love the Lord and participate in

our ministries with a cheerful heart.

In fact, they have been recognized by The Harbor Church as the longest, continually-serving

group to ever serve there. While other churches may have had a longer association with The

Harbor, no other group has been as dedicated as our youth to serve on an ongoing basis. We

look forward to the first Wednesday night of each month and we invite you to join us.

It is a blessing to have some of our youth and children singing in the choir with us. I especially

love to see how our adults love on them and take them under their wings as they learn more

about music and leading worship. Thank you fellow choir members for your love and support

for our young people!

During February, the youth will once again be leading a church-wide ministry opportunity

called Souper Bowl Sunday. You can go ahead and start gathering up your canned goods to

make this a big success. More details will be in the next month’s Connection.

Don’t forget:

Sunday School at 9:00 am with Mrs. Patti Walker.

Wednesday night Stick Ministry practice.

Sunday night Bible Study

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What a joyful way to experience Christmas! Our Cheerful Hearts’ Christmas Banquet was a delight as we joined hearts and hands to share the love of Christ with our friends from the Adult Group Homes. So many volunteered and donated to make the night very

special for each of our guests. From the kitchen help, gift buyers, decorators, greeters, servers, those who participated in the devotion, and those who cleaned up and set up, and technology, your gift of love was warmly received! We owe a special “thank you” to the Children of the Rehobeth Beta Club and their instructor Holly Seales who, at the request of Brittany Nolin, were eager to share their music and smiles with us for the Christmas sing-a-long. The simple sight of children walking in with their Christmas shirts and beautiful smiles inspired the oo’s and ah’s of all our guests. This in itself was a gift to them. Thank you to each one and for the love you have shared in your willingness to give of yourself in the name of Christ and to the glory of God.


Greystone UMC announces Administrative Council Church Leadership for 2020

Administrative Council Chair: Rufus Haymon Administrative Council Vice-Chair: Tim Carnley

Pastor: Teresa Seevers Recording Secretary: Mary Bullard Lay Leader: Sue Wilson Lay Delegate to Annual Conference: Joe Walker Alt Delegate to Annual Conference: Bob Willis Staff-Parish Committee Chair: Barbara Haymon Finance Chair: Ronald Fuller Church Treasurer: Annette Pitts Financial Secretaries: Shirley Brackin, Julie Hartley Trustees Chair: Jonathan Miskell Worship Chair and Church Historian: Carolyn Johnson Vision Team Chair: Ann Hart Parsonage Committee Chair: Patti Walker Nurture Committee Chair: Charm Russler Education Committee Chair: Jim Kinney Missions Committee Chair: Susan Loftin Nominations (Lay Leadership): Pastor

On December 8th, the Greystone Administrative Council approved the Church Leadership Positions as recommended by the Nominations Committee for 2020. Let us be in prayer for the leaders listed above and all of the committee members as we move into our new year.

A prayer from the United Methodist Church Discipleship Team: Almighty God, pour out your blessings upon these your servants who have been given particular ministries in your Church. Grant them grace to give themselves wholeheartedly in your service. Keep them before the example of our Lord, who did not think first of himself, but gave himself for us all. Let them share His ministry and consecration, that they may enter into His joy. Guide them in their work and leadership. Reward their faithfulness with the knowledge that through them your purposes are accomplished; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Leaders, thank you for your willingness to lead. You are asked to please get in touch with your perspective

Committee members and meet in January to make plans together for the sharing of ministry at Greystone and

beyond. If you need a full list of Committee and Committee members, please call the Church Office. An

exciting year ahead!

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By now you have probably made your New Year’s Resolutions (hopefully they are

all still intact at this point in the game ). I think that most of us look forward to the new year with anticipation and hope. Most people’s lists probably start with something like this: lose weight, eat better, get into shape. It then may get into more specific things like plan for retirement, plan a big trip, save for the new car, etc. While these are all great things to work towards, what is your “vision” for 2020? Or maybe I should ask, “Who” is your vision for 2020? Several years ago, Heather’s dad, Paul Duffey, passed along a devotional guide to the biblical references in the song, “Be Thou My Vision.” During one of our visits to his house, he and I got into a discussion about songs and the meaning behind some of the lyrics. Below are a few excerpts from what he sent (I have italicized the lyric references).

With “Be Thou My Vision,” we may think of the Apostle Paul’s testimony in Philippians 3:8 of losing everything for the sake of Christ. – “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ,” (Philippians 3:8 ESV).

The line "Waking or sleeping" brings to mind Psalm 139 and verse 18, "When I wake up, I am still with you," and speaks of the omnipresent nature of God (the Lord is always present with us).

"Be Thou My Wisdom" - scripture personifies Wisdom in the Book of Proverbs - "Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square,” (Proverbs 1:20 NIV). We read later in this chapter (Proverbs 1:28) that it is the Lord that is calling out. God himself is wisdom, and we can ask to receive this wisdom into our hearts as we sing the lines of this hymn.

Jesus teaches that " your heart will always be where your riches are," (Luke 12:34, GNT) and the fourth stanza of "Be Thou My Vision" is a prayer to be single-minded in placing the "King of Heaven" at the centre of life (and not materialism or recognition for the sake of it).

"But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings," (Malachi 4:2) - our prayer remains the same "whatever befall" - that Christ, the light of Heaven, is always our vision, the centre of our life.

Read the words as penned by Mary E. Byrne in 1905 as found in The United Methodist hymnal:

Be Thou My Vision Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art, Thou my best Thought, by day or by night; Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light. Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word; I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord, Thou and Thou only, first in my heart; great God of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art. Great God of Heaven, my victory won; May I reach Heaven's joys, O bright Heav'n's Sun. Heart of my own heart, whate'er befall; Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all. As we make and try to keep our resolutions for 2020, let’s be sure that our vision remains on Him, the only One who knows the future. Making a joyful noise, Chris Upcoming Events:

The Choir will take a few weeks off practicing, but if you are interested in joining us for the Easter music be sure to let me know!

We are still interested in hearing from you! Do you want to share with the Congregation your Greystone: Songs of our Faith song? If so, just let me know and we will schedule a Sunday for you to share.

10

December 2019

Income: $23,642 Expenses: $18,955.42

Birthdays, Anniversaries And Other Important Stuff

JANUARY ANNIVERSARIES

Rick and Sue Wilson 1/05 Bobby and Sherry Dean 1/12 Allen and Mary Beth Brackin 1/21

ATTENDANCE

December 1 December 8

Sunday School: 43 Sunday School: 44

Worship: 79 Worship: 82

December 15 December 22

Sunday School: 38 Sunday School: 38

Worship: 101 Worship: 84

December 29

Sunday School: 45

Worship: 76

Newsletter Deadline is now the 20th of each month!

If you are a regular

newsletter-article

contributor OR would like

to contribute an article for

a monthly newsletter, we have put a

new newsletter timeline in place. We

need our monthly articles to please be

submitted no later than the 20th of

each month before the actual

newsletter month. It takes a lot of

time to process each article and

distribute the newsletter, so please try

to make this deadline a priority.

Thank you.

January Birthdays

Joan De Loach 1/04 Michelle Godwin 1/09 Addelyn Rae Harrison 1/12 Sherry Dean 1/15 Larry Easterwood 1/15 Rob Hughes 1/15 Suzanne Harden 1/16 Terry Bauldree 1/21 Jay Helms 1/22 Tim Carnley 1/31 Jan Willis 1/31

11

NURSING HOME RESIDENTS

Candace Helms Debbie Batchelor Beverly Sanders Jo Williams Judy Childree Wanda Schamp Charla Beauchamp Laura Michaud Lawanna Dykes Shirley Brackin Joan De Loach Linda Robbins Tom Walsh Carolyn Johnson Patricia Grondziak William Martin

Margaret Dudka Gypsie Richardson Sherry Dean Family of Myra Shewmake

PRAYER LIST

Lois Christensen (5913 Granger Road, Marianna, FL 32446)

Clyde & Billie Cunningham (102 Pearce Street, 36301)

Polly Fortson (110 Hampshire Street, 36305)

Gerald & Ann McCallister (PO Box 286, Midland City 36350)

Marge Wood (707 Canterbury Dr., 36305)

. "Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive." Matthew 21:22

Wesley Place Extendicare Janie Arnold Vernon Sears(#513) Margrette Joiner(#532) Troy Health & Rehab Center Sara Williams(#510) Jerrie Hollis Billie Rabon(#727) Angelina Walsh (#400) Richard White(#715)

Those Serving our Country.........

CPL Cheyenne Anderson (Washington) (granddaughter of Curt & Sherry Anderson)

MAA3 Austin Caylor (Washington) (son of Toby & Veronica Philpot)

PFC Jonathan Hamilton (Jacksonville, NC) (grandson of Buford & Polly Fortson, son of Ted & Jennifer Hamilton)

LCPL Dakota (Cody) Justice (Jacksonville, NC) (son of Chris & Connie Justice)

PVT Penny Justice (Tallahassee, FL) (daughter of Chris & Connie Justice)

SFC Matthew Kingsbury (Alabama)

GnySgt Michael Monday (California) (son of Allen & Mary Beth Brackin)

SGT Chris Moore (California) (nephew of Allen & Mary Beth Brackin)

SPC Justin Outlaw (Afghanistan) (great-grandson of Glenda Sanders)

MAJ Justin Shaw (Georgia) (grandson of Buford & Polly Fortson)

SR Robert Williams (Guam) (grandson of Bob & Wanda Schamp)

PO2 Mathew Dwayne Wilson (Seattle, WA) (son of Rick & Sue Wilson)

Homebound

Our Church, Our Community, and Our

Country

A donation was made to Greystone United Methodist Church

In Memory of Tullis & Julia Free

By Gene & Saundra McGriff and Matthew & Natalie Snell


In Memory of Myra Shewmake

By Julie Hartley

12

Church Staff

Teresa Seevers Curt Anderson Senior Pastor Congregational Care Pastor

Chris Adkins Mark Robbins

Worship Leader/Choir Director Sound Tech

Carol Kinney Mike Johnson

Pianist Youth Director . Patty Johnson Mary Bullard

Children’s Director Pre-K Teacher

Suzanne Harden Heather Adkins Nursery Custodian

Jennifer Hamilton

Church Administration/IT Tech

Church Office Hours

Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m.

OFFICE: (334) 794-6725 FAX: (334) 712-9717

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.greystonedothan.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/

GreystoneUnitedMethodistChurch

Twitter: @GreystoneUMC

Instagram: greystonedothan

Team Leaders

Nurture Charm Russler

Education Jim Kinney

Missions Susan Loftin

Worship Carolyn Johnson


In Memory of Jeanette McCollum

By Rodney B. Crozier and Diane G. Odell


In Honor of Patti Walker

By Allen & Mary Beth Brackin


In Memory of Jeanette McCollum

By John & Nagel Byrd

Dear Church Family,

Singing is my joy—I am honored to be a part of the praise team at Greystone. Even when we don’t feel like we have done a good job, you always encourage us!

Thank you for always supporting us and loving on us!

I also want to thank you for your sweet love offering! What a bless-ing to be a part of such a loving family!

I thank God for you always!

Robyn Robbins


In Memory of Eva B. Morgan

By Steve Miller & Shelia Eschbach

january 2020 the onne tion - storage.googleapis.com...north alabama and are doing well. aleb is...

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