Announcements

At Four Oaks UMC, our theme for this year is guided by Philippians 1:7, where Paul commends us to, “share in God’s grace.” We are celebrating how God has been gracious to us and then being intentional about sharing God’s grace with others. When we are attentive, we find God’s grace all around us. In the loveliness of creation, through the hope of forgiveness, and by the beauty of the image of God uniquely shown through each and every one of us, God’s grace is abundant.

The congregation at Four Oaks UMC recognizes that grace, and because of it, we want to share it with others. This has been fruitful for us and for God’s glory. Recently, some folks from disaffiliated churches nearby have come to worship with us, as a Lighthouse Church remaining United Methodists. These visitors felt like we wanted them to be here. All of this happened because we were just nice, we showed gracious hospitality, and we shared God’s grace with them when they showed up.

For a while now, I have been telling people that the world needs the United Methodist Church, North Carolina needs the United Methodist Church, and Four Oaks needs our United Methodist Church. On that Sunday when we had visitors from disaffiliated churches visit our worship service, it was January 8th, when we remembered the Baptism of Jesus. During worship, we dipped our hands in the baptismal font and remember our own baptism, and I invited people down to the altar to pray. After we had worshipped together, one of our visitors told me that they felt like they were at home and that they would be back. They have been back almost every Sunday since.

After a disaffiliated church left them feeling lost in the wilderness, sharing in God’s grace made them feel at home. During this Lent, may we all “share in God’s grace” for our world, for our communities, and for the people like us that need God’s grace and need the United Methodist Church.

Loving God, guide us and strengthen us to be lighthouses of gracious hospitality. May we “share in God’s grace” so that all feel at home. Amen.

Rev. Adam Charville serves as the pastor of Four Oaks UMC in Four Oaks, NC.

“Christ our Lord invites to His table all who love Him …”

In 1951, Bishop Paul N. Garber was assigned as the episcopal leader for eastern North Carolina. During Bishop Garber’s 12-year tenure, over 75 new congregations were established to welcome new people into communion with Jesus Christ. In the last 15 years, our Annual Conference has continued Bishop Garber’s legacy, by establishing over 50 new faith communities. For Lent 2023, we celebrate the legacy of Bishop Garber and the ongoing co-creation of new places for new people to gather in communion with Jesus Christ. We also celebrate the 70th anniversary of the first call of the $10 club, which has helped to build numerous churches across our conference.

Some would call the participants in our most devoted adult Sunday school class disabled. Others call them uniquely abled. We call them “Wonderfully Made.” “I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works, that I know very well.” (Psalm 139:14).

At the early service on Sunday mornings, you’ll witness the Wonderfully Made class and their leaders in the Soapstone UMC sanctuary serving as some of our most faithful servants in worship. Ian loves to bring the light of Christ into the sanctuary, after which he dances to the praise music with observable joy. Danny plays guitar and sings in the praise band; he practices for days to read aloud the scripture lesson, taking on the old Hebrew names with a bravery unheard in neurotypical adults. Others from his class cheerfully pass the offering plates and bring them forward or help serve Holy Communion. Lauren takes great pride in refilling the Children’s Notebooks with the week’s activities, always taking home a copy of the word search puzzle to complete on her own. The class which has built their relationships through countless parties, fun outings, and Bible study forms an Amen chorus on the back row of worship where they can be counted on to laugh at this preacher’s jokes or clap for singing children. Their participation in worship is perfectly imperfect, and they are beloved and integral parts of our church family.

In 2021, an NCCUMC Missions Seed Fund grant allowed “Happiness Ministry” founder, Julie Scroggs, to expand the program from adults to children, who now smile and giggle their way through sensory-friendly activities such as a quiet Egg Hunt, children’s interactive worship services, and a Children’s Carnival for those with special needs. A new specially equipped Sensory Room provides a soothing place for anyone overwhelmed by too much input to retreat for a moment of peace with God. We give thanks to God for knitting together such a lively, dedicated group of disciples who have taught the whole congregation to fling our arms wide to welcome all God’s children.

Lord, you formed our inner parts. Our frames were not hidden from you when you were making us in secret. Wonderful are your works! Lord, may all wonderfully made children and adults know your love. Through Your Spirit, help us eliminate stigma associated with disabilities, and all are welcomed into your places of worship. Amen

Rev. Mitzi Johnson serves as the pastor of Soapstone UMC in Raleigh, NC

In 2008, on the cusp of one of our country’s most challenging economic times, Apex United Methodist Church took a step of faith by hiring Pastor José Luis Villaseñor. It was as if the winds of the Holy Spirit moved to plant a Hispanic/Latino ministry in Western Wake County. By instituting the celebration of Christmas Las Posadas from the beginning, the powerful movement of the Holy Spirit included a 400-year-old Mexican tradition that welcomed our Latino neighbors.

By 2010, Fiesta Cristiana was a “new faith community” with the necessary support to start weekly Sunday services in Spanish. More than a church, Fiesta became a family for hundreds of new people. That same year, Fiesta launched the Apex Latino Arts Festival in partnership with the Town of Apex. Subsequently, a building on the corner of Elm and Moore in Apex designated as the new “Family Resource Center” also became the office of Apex Immigration Services (established in 2016) and a place of welcome to build a sense of community and response to needs. God’s spirit was creating a movement!

Fast forward, COVID-19 presented unprecedented challenges to BILPOC communities. Yet, challenging times are nothing new to Latinx-led organizations like Fiesta. Through various partnerships, Fiesta Cristiana received support to serve thousands of individuals and families within the Fairway District, focusing on Harnett, Lee, Moore, Montgomery, and Richmond. In addition, we secured funding to expand the reach of the Family Resource Center to serve residents in the western part of Wake County with food, financial assistance, information, and referrals to health and human service providers.

After 15 years, Fiesta Cristiana is still standing! We continue to create many opportunities guided by our foundational core values: All are welcome, all belong, and all are needed. The opportunity to worship, the opportunity to serve, and the opportunity to create a just and loving community. As a recently chartered Mission Congregation, Fiesta Cristiana is finalizing its post-pandemic strategy to address the financial needs of the mission congregation without sacrificing the much-needed mission work. We are following in the steps of visionary disciples who the Holy Spirit awakened over a decade ago to establish a ministry that has transformed thousands of lives.

Loving God, help us to embody Beloved community. To embrace a world where all belong, all are welcome and needed. Thank you for your faithful witness during these last 15 years, where through Fiesta Cristiana, people from various racial identities serve together in heroic ways despite their differences, coming as they are and embodying oneness. Lead us into the future by centering the experience of those who suffer inequities or have historically been disempowered to create a thriving loving community for ALL your children. Amen.

Rev. José Luis Villaseñor serves as the pastor of Fiesta Cristiana Mission Congregation in Apex, NC.