OCTOBER 2018

Monthly Newsletter of Salem UMC, Morganton, NC

Salem Scoop

1206 Salem Road / Morganton, NC 28655 / www.sumcm.org / 828-433-6600

47th Annual Country Ham and Grilled Chicken Supper ***** October 6, 2018 ***** 4 -7 PM

Adult Plates (age 11& up) $10.00 Children (ages 6-10) $5.00 Children (5 and under) Free

Menu: Country Ham and/ or Grilled Chicken Mashed Potatoes, Red Eye Gravy, Biscuits, Green Beans, Cooked Apples, Cole Slaw, Homemade Desserts, Coffee, Tea or Soft Drink.

Join us for a congregation-wide opportunity to help us burn more brightly….

6 Weeks of Wed night dinner and programming returns! Oct. 3, 10, 17 & Nov. 7, 14, 28 - 6pm

(childcare & activities offered for kids age 11 and under btwn 6:30-7:30pm. Adults and youth will grow together through the engaging series Activating God Space) .

About the weekly program…...

Elevate your church vision for outward focused living!

Activating God Space leads churches through the culture shift from an inward to an outward focus. Each session provides vision, insight, and practical coaching necessary to create a fresh, magnetic culture from the inside out. A culture that attracts outsiders, energizes insiders, and mobi-lizes God's people for effective outreach.

Participants will experience a new sense of competence and confi-dence, increase the quality and the quantity of their spiritual conversations, and discover how to "be the church" in practical, doable, and organic ways.

WHY? Your church needs you! ... Oh yeah, and there’s food...

NOTES FROM NORM Dear SUMC Family, I always appreciate it when folks get right to the point. We humans aren’t always the best at being open and gracefully candid with one another. However, I’m writing in hopes of doing just that. Perhaps you’ve noticed recently, attendance and participation at SUMC continues to decline this year. Additionally, as of September 7, we are $23,086 behind on budget with less than 2 months expenses on hand. When I see and hear those things, I’m troubled. Not fearful, but troubled. “God doesn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of sound mind.” (2Tim1:7) We’re not in a “healthy” place right now. So, what do we do? This is not a letter asking you to dig a little deeper and give more money. Throwing more money at something is rarely the answer to difficulties we face. It’s increasingly clear in my own life that I can spend far too much time dealing with things going wrong than helping things to go right. So, I’m inviting you to join me in helping things go right. We are at a crucial junction in the life of our congregation and you are an im-portant part of that. As your pastor, I simply wanted to share with you this: your church needs you! What do I mean? Well, when you look at the verse just before verse 7 in 2Timothy, I think you’ll under-stand. “For this reason I remind you to fan the flame of the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” At some point in your life, maybe multiple times, someone laid hands on you and you were baptized into the life, death, resurrection, and ministry of Jesus Christ. Each of us is equipped by the Holy Spirit with gifts and grace to live out our calling in reaching new people with the saving love of Jesus. 2 Tim. reminds us to rekindle the flame and let it burn brightly in us again. How are your fanning the flame in you? Friends, God’s church needs you now. I trust the Spirit has already been leading and nudging you in some way before this note ever made it to paper. But, I also encourage you to be increasingly prayerful about it these next few weeks. Maybe that means offering yourself in leadership in the coming year, or stepping in to work with our children in music or Sunday School, or responding financially, or offering to help coordinate a new community outreach, or leading in worship, or serving kids at Salem Elementary, or maybe even return-ing after an extended time away. Only you know what it really means for you. All I know is SUMC needs you! I’m troubled by our current trends, but not fearful. Why? Perhaps you’ve also noticed we wel-comed over 50 children to VBS this summer, 8 needy families received weekly food deliveries throughout the summer, last month UMM fed over 100 families at Salem Elementary Open House while other servant hearts fed the Salem Staff and Patton football and cheerleaders, you gave over $1100 to Salem Elementary to help students in need, 8 youth are involved in confirmation, and several recent visitors have expressed a genuine interest in connecting with SUMC. As I write this, there are four bins full of supplies to welcome a Habitat family to their new home in the Salem community. I’m actually hopeful. Why? Because God has placed a gift in each one of us and it’s time to let it burn brightly! There is no pledge card to collect. But I hope you’ll accept this as an open and genuine invitation from me to be in contact or communication. I would love to hear from you! I’d love for you to share where God is nudging you or your excitement about responding to a call. It is my joy and privilege to share with you in ministry. Thank you for your heart for God’s Church and all God’s people. Fan the flame,

Pastor Norm

Weekly/Monthly Happenings at Salem

UMW meet first Thursdays of each month. (October 4, 7pm Cora Ora Courtney Causby) (October 4 6:30pm Sadie Rosemary Susan Kaika in FH) (October 4, Mary Alice …. Lois Velna– Meets Third Tuesday each month in the fellowship hall at 10 am

Deeper Water Bible Study Meets Wed. at 10 :30am in youth room. All are welcome!

Prayer Shawls are tangible reminders of God's love, comfort, and peace. The group meets Monday from 10-11:30am All are welcome.

If you know who needs a shawl contact Barbara Harbour or Margaret Carswell

Burke United Christian Ministries

Join us 1st Tuesday of each month at 3:30pm as we serve dinner at BUCM. 1st Sundays of each

month we encourage you to bring food for their pantry. (305 West Union St.) www.bucm.net

Our Financial Stewardship:

Thru September 25, 2018

Budgeted Need: $173,850.00 Total Received for Budget: $145,972.04 Ministry Expenses to Date: $146,595.28

Other Ministry Gifts Received to Date: Backpack Ministry: $1,315.00 Building Fund: $6,220.00 Cemetery: $585.00 Grant Fund: $1,020.00 Youth Fund: $1,665.00

Ongoing Ministries w/ Students & Schools: (& how to get involved- servant hearts welcomed)

-Reading Buddies – (Volunteer approx. 1 hour weekly to read and listen to kids @ SES) Sept-May Contact: Barbara Schneider 828-438-4074 -Varsity Football Meal – Oct 26, 4pm Contact: Norm Jones 828-980-4139 - Backpack Ministry – (Pack and deliver backpacks of food for students for the wknd) Sept-May + summer Contact: Margaret Carswell 828-437-6185 -Prayer Partners - (Pray over a list of SES staff for each day OR be assigned a kid from SUMC to pray for) Contact: Melissa Causby (staff) 828-413-3979 Kathryn Jones (kids) 919-260-9852 -Enola Trail Workdays – (Community project for a greenway to connect Mull & Patton schools) TBA, 8-11 am Contact: Jodi Brown 828-413-1919

Gifts given in Memory (October) Dean Garrison Charles & Leota Garrison Robert Garrison Charles & Leota Garrison Mary Ellen Nelson Charles & Leota Garrison Joe Roper Charles & Leota Garrison Dean Garrison Jerry & Marcie McCall Eugene Dale David & Janette Dale Mary Dale David & Janette Dale Mary Ellen Nelson Joan Borden Honor of Charles & Leota Garrison Jerry & Marcie McCall Honor of L. P. Dale & Family David & Janette Dale

Christ Bread A monthly program for any adults to fellowship and nurture

body, mind, and soul. New topics and guests are offered fourth Tuesday of each month. Bring a covered dish to share.

Oct 23, 11am, (FH)

CHURCH STAFF Norm Jones, Jr.—Pastor (rev.norm@alumni.duke.edu) Virginia Robinson, Dir. of Music (robinsonva62@gmail.com) Sue Bunch, Pianist (s_bunch@att.net) Zachary Cagle, Office Admin. (salemumchurch@ymail.com)

Youth Schedule for October -October 6 —Youth Help @ Ham Supper 4–7 pm -October 7— (No Youth) -October 14— Yth Group, 5pm -*October 19-21 Mission Retreat Wknd @ Bud Schiele

-October 24— Trunk or Treat 5pm -October 28— Yth Group, 5pm Save these dates: November 9-11 Confirmation weekend at LJA

November 25 Confirmation Sunday—TBD

Salem KIDS FALL Events Mark your calendars!!

Oct 2 - Trunk r Treat planning mtg 7pm *Oct 24 - Trunk or Treat 5:30-7:30pm Nov 5 - Journey to the Manger planning mtg Nov 16 - Movie Night 6 pm Dec 2 Journey to the Manger Practice *Dec 9 Journey to the Manger night

Trunk or Treat Outreach

Calling all clowns, superheros, and stars, Trunk or Treat is set for Wed. Oct 24 from 5:30-7:30, and we can use your help-ing hands. We welcomed around 400 friends and neighbors last year and ran out of candy and hot dogs in about 30 minutes. Here are a few ways you can help: 1. Come plan with us Oct 2 at 7 pm 2. Begin collecting candy and bring to SS class or worship 3. Sign up to decorate your trunk, serve hot dogs, or help with carnival games Planning meeting October 2nd at 7pm in the youth room.

The Reading Buddy program at Salem Ele-mentary is in full swing but we always need servant hearts. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Barb Schneider at 438-4074. A background check is required to serve and orientation is offered. There are plenty of other ways you can be in ministry at SES too!

POCKETS is a family devotional mag-azine for you and your kids to read and en-joy! It includes short stories, devotions with scripture, family activities, and ways to incorporate faith and service into each day and week. Pick up a copy from your Sunday School teacher or sanctuary entry.

(Oct 19-21) -

A weekend of mis-sion and worship for middle and high school youth. We will enjoy a weekend at Camp Bud Schiele serving worksites on Saturday in Rutherford County. Register with Norm ASAP (cost $35) Skilled adults are still needed to help serve. (828-980-4139) Thank you for your sup-port as we go out to be the hands and feet of Christ!

Prayer Partners Many of you committed prayers and notes of encourage-ment to one of our children/youth last school year. We ask that you pray for your child/youth by name at least once a week. Additionally, you should encourage your student by sending them a note or card monthly. If you would like to be a prayer partner this year contact the church office at 828-433-6600 or salemumchurch@ymail.com

Youth Retreat- Jan 25-27, 2019

Resurrection is an annual worship and spiritual growth event in Pigeon Forge, TN for nearly 12,000 youth and their leaders celebrating the God of new life. Through inspirational words and music led by nationally-known

speakers and musicians, young people encounter the Lord in new and deeper ways. This year features I Am They and Grace Church Pastor, Jorge Acevedo. Resur-

rection is hosted by the youth ministry of the Holston Conference of the UMC. Registration deadline: Nov. 25.

Cost $60. www.resurrectionyouth.com

Dear Lord, hear our prayers….

Servant Leaders for October

Acolytes: 7 – Ellie Shuping 14 – Brady Keller 21– Ava Hensley 28– Ronin Smith Usher Captains: 7 - Dylan Carswell 14 - Dobie Kelly 21- Bruce Pollard 28 - Tim Keller Reader for 11 am 7 – Dobie Kelly 14 - Melissa Causby 21 - Gordon Ronk 28– Kacey Hensley

Nursery 7 - 11 am– De’Nae Huffman & Margaret Duckworth 14 - 11 am– Amanda Simmons & Brenna Call 21 - 11 am - Joann Byrd & Melissa Causby 28- 11 am– Jerry McCall & Marcie McCall

Prayers & Concerns: Thomas Ayers, Seth Loven, Tonya Brown,

Doris M. Garrison, James Carswell, Fred Duckworth, Cindy Robinson,

David & Jeanette Dale, Joan Allen, Susan Stroup, Tom Carlson ,

Max Pearson,

Homebound: Millie Avery, Mildred Mull, Mary Wilson,

Jean Jarrell, Charles & Leota Garrison,

Nursing Home Residents:

~Grace Heights– Mable Hoke

~College Pines– Elsie Roper, Avis Williams

~The Brian Center of Spruce Pine– Helen McGee

~Hope Ridge Family Care– Nell Causby

1 Doris Ingram, Alan Schneider 2 Larry Koon 3 James Clark 4 Ava Hensley, Mike Smith 5 David Allen Dale 9 Max Pearson, 10 Derreck Carswell 13 Kathie Waldroup, Lara Autrey 14 Michelle Roper 17 Dustin Carswell 18 Terry Campbell 19 Chris Ross 21 Portia Smith 23 Autumn Wellman 24 Jerry Carroll 25 Kacey Hensley 27 Scott Roper 29 Richard Duckworth ANNIVERSARIES 11 Todd & Rebecca Shuping 11 Joshua & Brandi Mooring 15 James & Mary Carswell 21 Gerald & Kay Duckworth 26 Bruce & Kay Pollard

Salem UMC Blood Drive Friday October 12, 2:30-7 pm

Consider giving the gift of life.

Sign up online at www.redcrossblood.org

Enter sponsor code: salemumc OR contact

Margaret Carswell @ 828-437-6185 or Rhonda McCoy @ 828-391-4028

Good Neighbor Project SUMC is partnering with Burke Habitat to provide a welcome pack or “pounding” for new homeowners. Any new supplies for a family moving into a new

home is appreciated.

Thanks for all your donations last month. The house should be finished by the end of October. If you would like to be part of the welcome visit to deliver and meet the family. Please contact Pastor Norm.

(*Once a delivery date is determined a cake, bread, and meal for the freezer would be appreciated)

Take Note:

Oct 7—World Communion Sunday (combined 11am….no 9am worship)

Oct 28 - Last Sunday Lunch - 12:15pm Join us for lunch after worship October 28

Cost by donation.

October 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18

19 20 FH Reserved

21 22 23 24 25 26

27

28 29 30 31

10:30am Bible Study (Yth Rm) 6pm Church meal & program 7:30 pm Choir *Choir Time Change* 7:30pm

10:30am Bible Study (Yth Rm) 6pm Church meal & program 7:30 pm Choir

FH Reserved

10am Lois Velna (FH) 6 pm Praise Team

6pm Praise Team 9am EK @ FUMC

10 am Prayer Shawl (Ed Bldg) 6pm Girl Scouts (FH)

10 am Prayer Shawl (Ed Bldg)

10 am Prayer Shawl (Ed Bldg) 6pm Girl Scouts (FH)

Yth Mission Wknd

10:30 am Bible Study (Yth Rm) 5:30—7:30 Trunk or Treat

4pm Finance & Church Council Semi-nar (Parlor) 5 pm Youth (Yth Rm)

12:30pm Staff Meeting 6pm Praise Team

12—6 FH Reserved

10:30am Bible Study (Yth Rm) 6pm Church meal & program 7:30 pm Choir

12:15pm Church-wide Lunch (FH) 5pm Youth (Yth Rm)

9-3pm Card Class (FH)

UMM Ham Supper 4-7pm

10 am Prayer Shawl (Ed Bldg) 9am Ed Kilbourne @ FUMC

10:30 am Bible Study (Yth Rm) 7:15 pm Choir 9am EK @ FUMC

2-7 pm Blood Drive (FH)

FH Reserved 12– 8

11 am Christ Bread 6pm Praise Team

3:30pm BUCM meal 6pm Praise Team 7pm Trunk plan-ning (Yth Rm)

7pm UMW Circle Mtgs (Homes)

10 am Prayer Shawl (Ed Bldg)

(no 9am worship) 11am Combined Worship World Communion (No Youth)

FH Reserved for the UMW Bazaar and Breakfast

Yth Mission Retreat

8:30-10am Mom’s Coffee 4pm Patton foot-ball meal (FH)

FH Reserved UMW

(Oct 4-9 Norm away for family wedding)