The Fulton Newsletter
May, 2012
"Reflecting the Image of God" -
In that powerful poem of Creation that is the first chapter of Genesis, the writer, inspired by God, says that human beings are created in the image of God. Each of us individually reflects a tiny portion of the image of God. All of us together reflect a slightly larger portion of the image of God. And yet, we are just the created, created by the one who always was, always is, and always will be. The biblical writers affirm that God is the creator of all that is.
How, then, can we know what the image of God looks like? The Christian writer, Maeline L'Engle says this:
And it came to me as I stood on the desert sand, looking at the Great Pyramid, that what any civilization says about God tells us more about that civilization than it does about God. Nothing we say about the Creator can be adequate. It is always small and fumbling and centered on the reflection we see, which is to say ourselves.
How do we look beyond ourselves to find an image of what God looks like? At Vacation Bible School a few years back, a six-year old, fresh out of Kindergarten said, "Jesus is God's show and tell." In Jesus, we can see both the image of God and the image of people as God created us in the beginning. This is what is meant when we say that Jesus is "God Incarnate." Both Son of God and Son of Man. Both Divine and human.
Jesus said, "If you do not understand me as a little child, you will not be able to enter the kingdom of Heaven." Let go of your adult reason and intellect, and look at Jesus with the wonder and awe and faith of a child, and you will see God reflected in your own heart.
Seeking the image of God,
Kirk
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MAY MISSION MEAL at Fulton UMC - May 20th at 5:30 pm at the picnic shelter (weather permitting; inside if the weather is bad). There will also be volleyball, horseshoes, and other outdoor fun activities to challenge and inspire!
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FULTON TRUSTEES HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD
- The Trustees are trying to make the church more handicapped friendly. Two signs were put up during the March 31st Clean-Up Day to reserve handicapped parking spaces in front of the church and to direct cars to our second wheelchair entrance at the Fellowship Hall. A special thank you to the Senior Class who paid for these signs. Other improvements for the handicapped are being considered.
- Travis Young is also applying for a historical marker that will be placed out at the road to describe our historic church - similar to the sign at the Advance UMC. This sign will be available at no charge.
- They secured a new insurance policy for our church with an annual savings of $1,043.00. The new annual premium starting in May will be $2,758.00 (and our old premium was $3,801.00).
- The Trustees received approval from the Executive Team to have the historic church painted. it is important that we have this painting done soon - before we have wood damage.
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THE EXECUTIVE TEAM (the former Administrative Council and Finance Committee)
After meeting with Christian Burns from the United Methodist Foundation of Western NC to learn more about investment opportunities for our church, the Executive Team voted on April 22nd to create a Parsonage Fund at the foundation and to move $25,227.78 from a matured CD to this new fund. At the foundation, we can earn 2% interest, rather than 1/4 of 1% at the local bank, and there are no penalties for early withdrawal.
The United Methodist Women made a $415.00 donation to the Parsonage Fund, when it was established in April, and they plan to make future donations. If you would like to make a personal donation to this fund, be sure to write "Parsonage Fund" on your check or on your cash envelope that you place in the offering plate. We are allowed to add any amount to an established fund.
Currently, Kirk and Cheryl reside in the Advance UMC parsonage, but when Kirk is moved, we will be responsible for providing a home for the new minister or a housing allowance. The moving of this fund to earn more interest, will help us in our plans to pay for that.
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MISSION REPORT
Project 5000 - The feeding of the 5,000 is one of the many miracles that Jesus performed. He took a small amount of food (five loaves and two fish) and fed the multitudes.
So this was our challenge - each buying a small amount of food to feed hungry families in Davie County. Each bag will feed a family of four for two days (that's 24 meals).
On Easter Sunday, the people of Fulton provided 12 bags of groceries (that makes 384 meals), and this was a community project. The United Methodist churches in Advance provided 103 bags of groceries (2,472 meals)!!
A big "thank you" to everyone who participated in this local mission project.
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The World Hunger Crisis - More than 1 billion people do not have enough to eat. In developing countries, 10.9 million children under age five die each year. In fact, a child dies every six seconds from a hunger-related cause.
And we all made a difference! The 2012 community "Stop Hunger Now" event was held at the Mocks UMC on Saturday, April 21st. We started with four United Methodist churches (Mocks, Advance, Elbaville and Fulton). Then we had 35 members volunteer (6 from Fulton plus Pastor Kirk), and we had $4,412.37 donated to purchase meals. Fulton gave $625.00 of that total from our February Mission Meal donations, the loose change offerings collected by our children in their Thunder Sunday cans, and a $46.84 United Methodist Women's donation. Then on April 21st, we had 17,496 meals!!
Whether you volunteered to help pack these meals or you gave donations for the February Mission Meal or the Thunder Sunday cans, you helped to make this possible - you made a difference! Thank you for caring.
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Sympathy is extended to the families of Iona Stewart and William Burgess.
Iona was a charter member of the United Methodist Women and also one of our oldest living members of Fulton. Thank you to those who contributed to the Cemetery Fund in Iona's memory.
William was the son of Mary Lawson and he passed away unexpectedly.
Please remember both of these families in your thoughts and prayers.
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Cemetery Fund -
Please consider a donation to the Cemetery Fund if you have a loved one buried in our church cemetery.
Recently, we have had to add dirt in the cemetery where the ground was settled. We also use the Cemetery Fund to pay for the mowing and upkeep of trimming around the tombstones.
Please remember that you need to secure your flower arrangements that are placed on the grave. Storms and winds carry the flowers away when not secure.
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Please remember if you have a pastoral need, to contact Kirk at the church office - 336-998-8117 or at his home number - 336-998-4352. Often we assume he knows our needs or that someone has called him, when in fact, no one has let him know. If you have access to a computer, you can also email him at kingtutt65@hotmail.com .
Also, remember to keep up with us on our website: www.fultonumcnc.org for the latest sermons, listing of events, etc. We also have a direct church email: Fultonumcnc@gmail.com and we are on Facebook.
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* * * Our Church Calendar * * *
Sunday, May 6 12:00 noon - Cinco de Mayo lunch hosted by Young Adults - Donations accepted. The UMW is supporting the cost for our Senior Citizens, age 62 and up.
Sunday, May 13 Thunder Sunday - bring your change for Missions.
Sunday, May 13 L.A. Bridge Celebration & Music - Disciple Classes at 6:00 pm and Praise, Worship and Music at 7:00 pm. POSTPONED - celebrate Mother's Day by going to dinner with someone special
Tuesday, May 15 4:00-6:30 pm - Poor Man's Supper. Donations accepted. 10% of total raised will go to the Parsonage Fund and 10% will be given to the Fork Fire Department.
Sunday, May 20 5:30 pm - Mission Meal & Picnic. Bring your favorite covered dish and join us for fellowship and an evening of games.
Sunday, May 27 9:30 am - Contemporary Sunday. L.A. Bridge will provide music.
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