THE CONNECTION

Jefferson United
Methodist Church
115 E. Main St.
Jefferson, NC 28640

January 2015

MINISTRY TO BODY & SOUL

OUR SUNDAY
WORSHIP
SCHEDULE
NO 9:00 A.M.
Service this
Month
9:30 A.M.
Sunday School
10:30 A.M.
Traditional Service

Pastor
Karen Miller
ON THE INSIDE
Our People
Memorials
News /Notes
In Celebration
Responsibilities
Calendar

2
2
3
3
5
8

A bold ad in a popular women's magazine

anyone who wants to walk inside can
enticed readers with a headline promising,
meet at Jefferson Station at 5:30 p.m..
Lose 7 Times the Weight! Their preYou can walk at whatever pace is comscription for outstanding success is exercisfortable and bring a friend. We can
ing with friends. They reported that flexing
also discuss options for using the
muscles works better when you buddy-up
church space if you wish.
to encourage one another and share your 3. Write down your food and exercise
muscle pain and dietary deprivation.
every day. You can write in a notebook, use an online tool, or whatever
When I recently lost over 20 pounds in
you select is best for you. I use a free
five months, I decided to explain my
online tool called sparkpeople.com.
weight loss strategy to three people and
There are others that are helpful. If
report to them weekly. I discovered that
participants wish to report weight loss
what helped my body and soul was engoals and progress to someone to keep
couragers and accountability. My three
yourself on track, we can arrange for
partners kept me from quitting more times
either a buddy system or a weekly
than I want to say.
check in station.
I am offering a three-month health chalThis challenge will be reevaluated in three
lenge to anyone who would like to become
months.
stronger and healthier in 2015. This challenge is to adopt three things:
Come to Jefferson Station ready to walk
off some Christmas pounds at 5:30 p.m.
1. A healthy diet. You can choose
on Monday, January 5 with a food and
Weight Watchers, low fat, low calorie,
exercise plan in mind, and a way to track
low carbohydrate or whatever works
your progress. That night we will check in
for you. After years of trying to lose
and spend the first 15 minutes talking and
weight on a low fat, low calorie plan, I
stretching, with 45 minutes for walking or
always gained instead of lost. I found
other exercise. If we have church meetthat low carbohydrate worked for me.
ings at 6:30 on exercise nights, some parEveryone has a different type of body
ticipants, including me, may be wearing
and different reasons we gain. Choose
exercise clothing!
a diet that is right for you.
2. An exercise plan. Winters are the
Think about losing seven times more behardest time to get regular exercise,
cause were improving our health and fitbecause we spend less time outside and ness together, and join the fun!
many of us eat more comfort food.
On Monday and Thursday nights
Karen Miller

REMEMBER IN
PRAYER

Members
Lena Bingham
Kitty Parmalee

Military
Ryan Avera
Casey Caudill
Anatoly Ray
Riley Watson
John Wooten

Friends
Wendell Halsey
Mary & Mark Wyatt
T.C. Hensinger
Darlene Poe
Tracy Grove
Jerry Carpenter
Kiersten Sharpe
Family of Lindsey Bennett
Barb Wagoner
Jerry Absher
Stan Hardison
Peyton Colvard
Nancy Lewis
Gilbert Bare
Family of Wanda
Wimberly
Our Staff
Karen Miller
Ashley Church
Maranda Thompson
Christina Wagoner
Zach Fulbright
Michael Bell
Clay Camp
Tiffany Fulbright
Brenda Jones

Jacky Brown

OUR PEOPLE: MEETING UPDATES

ACTIVE ADULTS
The Active Adults will meet again in April.

CHURCH CHICKS
The Church Chicks will not meet in January.

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

The United Methodist Womens next meeting
will be held on Monday, April 20th at 12:00
pm.

UNITED METHODIST MEN

The United Methodist Men will not meet in
January or February.

If you would like to receive The Connection by email, please contact Ashley at
jeffersonumc@skybest.com or call the church office at 336.846.9512.

HONORING OUR LOVED ONES

GIFTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN
IN MEMORY
OF THE FOLLOWING:

GIFTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN

IN HONOR
OF THE FOLLOWING:

Shane Colvard
Gerhard & Karin Kalmus

Alyce Nadeau
Gerhard & Karin Kalmus

Willa Mae Campbell

Travis & Kendra Perkins

Corporal Joe
Tuck McClure

Charles Stepherd
Joe & Polly Himm

Ashley Church
Nenie Midyette

Norman Fogt
Kevin & Mindy Wonsick

JP & Helen Wonsick

Kevin & Mindy Wonsick

Dr. Roy Freeman

Edward Harrill
Sharon United Methodist
Church

Bo Ziroli
Mr. & Mrs. H.E. Ziroli
Parents of Mr. & Mrs. Ziroli
Mr. & Mrs. H.E. Ziroli

Elizabeth McClure Halls &

Family
Tuck McClure
JUMC Music Program
Gaylord & Ann Snyder

Robert & Lucille Groenke

Kevin & Mindy Wonsick

Andy McClure & Family

Tuck McClure

Ira & Mary Johnston

John C. Johnston

Tom McClure & Family

Tuck McClure

Tom & Nancy Johnston

John C. Johnston

Nenie Midyette
Gerhard & Karin Kalmus

Jimmy & Donna Kiefer

Kevin & Mindy Wonsick

Irene Morphew
Gerhard & Karin Kalmus

Milton & Mabry King

John C. Johnston

Maranda Thompson
Nenie Midyette
Travis & Kendra Perkins

Joe & Leese McClure

Tuck McClure
Page 2

THE CONNECTION

NEWS AND NOTES

TOTAL GIVING AS OF 12/14/14
Year-to-date Giving : $277,404.66
Year-to-date Building Fund: $68,248.00
Capital Campaign Balance Through June 30:
$405,169.78

HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSINGS

Thursday, January 1
Closed
Friday, January 2
Closed
Monday, January 19
Closed

SUNDAY WORSHIP AT 10:30 A.M.

January 4 until March

We took a church-wide survey in November

to determine what time most people would
prefer to worship this winter. The majority
said that of the options offered, they would
prefer to have one worship service at 10:30,
with Sunday school at 9:30. We intend to

resume having two worship services on Easter, at 9:00 and 11:00. Thank you to those who
participated in the survey for carefully considering the impact of this change on our church.

INCLEMENT WEATHER CLOSINGS

Church meetings will be cancelled if the entire school
day is cancelled or if school is released early. If there is
a delay and not a cancellation, the event will most likely
be held. Please call the church to confirm. In the case
of inclement weather on a Sunday, we hope to put out

a phone tree message early enough that everyone is notified of cancellations. We will also put a message on
the church phone to announce closings. We have contracted to have the parking lots scraped if we have
events at the church following inclement weather.

Please send celebratory messages which reflect our members talents and contributions to our church and our
community to Ashley at jeffersonumc@skybest.com or drop your items in the office mailbox.

CELEBRATIONS
Jonathan and Beulah
Gambill Coley are the
proud parents of a beautiful little girl, Cora Ruth
Coley 6 lbs. 11 oz., born
November 21, 2014,
Cora Ruth is the granddaughter of Randy Gambill and Sharilyn Owens
and great-granddaughter of Ruth Gambill.

We celebrate the baptism of Emma Rose Reeves

Cowie on
December
28, 2014.
Her parents
are Scott &
Melissa Cowie. Her
grandparents
are Ralph & Betsy Reeves.
Page 3

THE STORIES BEHIND THE WINDOWS

The Stories Behind the Windows are
biographical sketches of the men and
women in whose memory windows have
been placed in our church. The lives of
these dedicated Christians cover many
years from the early 1800s until the
1970s. Each story tells of devotion to and
love for this church, and those of us who
feel the same love can be thankful for their
lives. They helped make our church what
it is today.

to do so. He was active in community and

civic affairs, serving the Rotary Club as
president in 1962. He was a member of
the Jefferson Lodge I.O.O.F. and was a
director of the Ashe Memorial Hospital.
As a director of the Ashe County Development Corporation, he was instrumental in
helping to get industries for the county.
He worked with the Boy Scouts for many
years on the local and district levels. He
was a faithful member of the Jefferson
Methodist Church, serving as a superintenLARRY PARKS COLVARD
dent of Sunday School and as church treasLarry Parks Colvard was born on Septem- urer for many years. His favorite pastime
ber 16, 1986, to William Thomas and Rosa was fishing, which he enjoyed when possiRay Colvard. His home was in the Orion ble either here or in Florida. He died on
community and he attended Orion School. October 3, 1963 and is buried in the Jefferson Cemetery.
On December 18, 1919, he and Myrtle
Evelyn Phipps were married at the Moun-Hal Colvard & Jennie Hightower
tain Inn in Jefferson. They had two sons,
William Parks Colvard and Harold Bryan
We are featuring one person from the
Colvard. They also gave a home to Myrwindows each month. We would like
tles nephew, Joseph L. Farnsworth, Jr.,
to thank Jennie Clyde Hightower for
who was known as Sonny.
documenting the church window history.
Larry served as Register of Deeds and
County Accountant for several years. In
1942 he joined the Northwestern Bank as
Two of the windows were restored in
cashier where he served until his retire2014. We appreciate the donors that made
ment in 1962.
this possible.
His generosity, kindness and willingness to
help people enabled many to purchase a
home when they might not have been able

SANCTUARY STAINED GLASS WINDOW RESTORATION

We have received gifts or
pledges of $34,218.83
through 12/7/14 to assist
with the repair and restoration of the stained glass
windows in the sanctuary.

Thank you to the donors.

always make a gift in honor

or memory of someone.
If you would like to make a Please indicate that your
gift is for Stained Glass
gift of any size, you may
Restoration. Thank you!
write a check or give cash
to the church. You can
Page 4

JEFFERSON UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH

B
I
R
T
H
D
A
Y
S

7
10
11
12
13
14

16
18
21
23
24
25
26
28
29
30

January 2015

Anderson Moore
Jimmy Thompson
Katie Girtman
Evelyn Jones
Donna Weaver
Ben Harrison
Clairene Cockerham
Wayne Asbury
Jenny Johnson
Delsin & Trent Baker
Florence Scott
Ron Martz
Grier Hurley
Mae Asbury
Maxine Miller
Karen Cooper
Rena McPhatter
Ralph Reeves
Mable Coleman
Lois Ulrich
Joe Thore
Ben Hurley

ANNIVERSARIES
1 Randy Gambill & Sharilyn Owens
14 Jill Ferguson & Bernie Williams
20 Fred & Dottie Waechter

SERVICE
FLOWERS
4
Available
11
Kendra Perkins
18
Available
25
Available
ACOLYTE
4
Blake Levi
11
Cole Rumfelt
18
Savanna Vannoy
25
Jackson Keith
CHILDRENS TIME
4
Donna Weaver
11
Jessica Roland
18
Colleen Dixon
25
Peggy Bailey
NURSERY
Tiffany Fulbright is our paid nursery attendant every Sunday. We need four people who are 20 or older to assist in
caring for our youngest children once a month during Sunday school or worship. If you are interested in serving,
please contact Maranda Thompson at 276-768-0281 or
jumcyouth@skybest.com.
LITURGIST
Karen Miller

11:00 USHERS
Available
TRANSPORTATION
Jim Wooten and volunteers

**PLEASE CONTACT THE CHURCH OFFICE

IF YOU HAVE ANY CHANGES OR ADDITIONS.**

CHILDREN, YOUTH, & FAMILIES

YOUTH GROUP
Our youth meets every Wednesday night 6:30-7:30
in the Morphew house. Lately we have had 10-12
youth.
CHILDRENS CHOIR & BELLS
Childrens Choir will resume on Wednesday, January 7, 6:00- 6:30 in the Johnston Classroom. For
more information, contact Mindy Wonsick at
wonz35@hotmail.com.

ASHE COUNTY CHRISTMAS PROJECT

We wrapped bags of gifts
for 41 children! Thanks to
everyone who participated in making Ashe Countys children Christmas
merry and bright!

CONFIRMATION CLASS BEGINS

SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, 12:00 - 1:30
Our confirmation class will have lunch and begin
Jefferson Youth Ringers will meet on Wednesdays,
the winter sessions of learning about the Christian
5:45-6:30. Joyful Ringers will meet 6:30-7:00. Confaith. The teacher will be Karen Miller and students
tact Kalen Fulbright at
age 12 and older are welcome to attend. Parents
fulbright@skybest.com for more information.
are welcome to join us for lunch, which is provided
by the church.

The Christmas Gift

Thank you to everyone who participated in this years Christmas Pageant! Special thanks to Matt Dixon
& Sarah Sanders for the creation of our beautiful set! Sarah also designed our congregational invitations. Also special thanks to Dana Henson who helped
lead the children. Mindy Wonsick and Jayne Leonard
did a wonderful job leading the music and Laura Kessler
was the perfect go-to woman! We appreciate Michael
Bell accompanying the carols and Kalen Fulbright leading our childrens bell choir with the assistance of Cheryl
Baker.
What I had a hard time saying on Sunday was that I
wanted to use this pageant as a teaching tool to help
our young ones be able to teach others the true meaning of Christmas the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ. I am in awe of the commitment your family makes
to this Church, amidst your busy schedules. Thank you for
letting me be a part of your childs life! It is a true honor to
get to love and teach your child.
Christmas Blessings,
Maranda Thompson, Director of Children, Youth and Families

UNITED METHODIST MEN FUNDRAISER

The United Methodist Men are selling
peanuts, $5 and cheese straws, $4 to raise
money for local missions. They are working with Ashe County Council on Aging
to complete service projects such building
wheelchair ramps, home repairs, etc. as
well as meeting needs within our own
church. Contact Paul Horan 336-982-2682 or Gaylord Snyder 336982-8861 to purchase these items or for more information.

FOOD PANTRY TIN CAN OFFERING

SUNDAY, JANUARY 11
Our children will pass the tin cans to collect money for Jefferson's Food Pantry during the worship
service on Sunday, January 11. Please bring your
coins and cash!

DUKE ENDOWMENT GRANT APPLICATION IN

PROCESS FOR THE FOOD PANTRY
Our church has applied for a grant of $60,000 over three years to
assist with the purchase of food for the food pantry. Our goal is to
make it possible to serve clients once a month instead of once every
other month. Karen Miller and Karen Cooper met with a representative from the Duke Endowment in December, and the grant
will be processed in February. The money for the first year will be
available in early summer if the grant is approved. Please join us in
praying for this grant to be approved so that we can expand the
church's ability to provide food for Ashe County residents.
Photo Caption

You Could
In partnership with Ashe Ministerial Association and Ashe Baptist
Association, Mission HeartStart
has invited our church to be one
of the first to receive a free Automatic External Defribrillator and
store it at our church. To qualify,
we must have at least 30 people
willing to learn to use of the
AED, chest compression and other emergency measures. Trainees

must be at least 16 years of age,

but there is no maximum age.
We appreciate all of those who
have signed up to be trained to use
the AED device. We need about
10 more people to qualify for the
training, which will be on Saturday, March 7, 9:00-12:00 in our
fellowship hall. Please sign up on
the sheet in the narthex if you are
willing to be trained.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT
SUPPER
Wednesday Nights are Fellowship
Nights at Jefferson UMC. A delicious
meal is served from 5:15 to 6:15 for
anyone who wishes to come. The meal
is $5 per person or a maximum of $20
per family. The meal is prepared by
Jacky Brown with consideration for
children, youth and adults. There are
musical rehearsals for our children and
adult choirs and youth group following
the meal, but families and individuals
who are not participating in music are
welcome to come.
PLEASE NOTE: If weather cancels school or requires an early release, the Wednesday meal and all
childrens programming will also be
cancelled.

RECOGNITION AND
INSTALLATION OF
CHURCH OFFICERS
Sunday, January 4, 10:30
We greatly appreciate the officers who
have served our church in the past
year! Now that we are entering 2015,
we would like to officially say
"THANK YOU!" to those who have
served and to install those who will be
serving in the year ahead. We invite all
of our church leaders from 2014 and
2015 to the 10:30 worship service on
January 4 for this special time of
recognition!

9:30 AM Sunday School

For All Ages

January

10:30 AM Worship
Service

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

Wednesday Night Schedule

5:45
6:00
6:30
6:30
6:30
7:30

4
11:00
Installation of
New Officers

THU
1

Jefferson Youth Ringers

Childrens Choir
Joyful Ringers
Youth Group
Adult Choir
Adult Handbells

The Church Office is

closed on Fridays.

FRI
2

Office Closed

6
9:00 to 12:00
Food Pantry

5:15 PM Dinner/Choirs/
Bells
6:30 PM Youth Group
7:30 PM NA Meeting

11:00 AM
Partners in
Prayer

13

14

15

9:00 to 12:00
Food Pantry

5:15 PM Dinner/Choirs/
Bells
5:30 PM Christian Education Council
6:30 PM Youth Group
7:30 PM NA Meeting

11:00 AM
Partners in
Prayer

SAT
3
7:30 PM
NA Meeting

10
7:30 PM
NA Meeting

Holy
Communion
11

12

Tin Can
Offering

12:00
Worship Cmte

12:00
Kids for Christ
& Confirmation
Class
18

6:00
Trustees
20

21

22

Office
Closed

9:00 to 12:00
Food Pantry

11:00 AM
Partners in
Prayer

Finance Cmte

5:15 PM Dinner/Choirs/
Bells
5:30 PM IVC
6:30 PM Youth Group
7:30 PM NA Meeting

25

27

28

29

9:00 to 12:00
Food Pantry

5:15 PM Dinner/Choirs/
Bells
6:30 PM Youth Group
7:30 PM NA Meeting

11:00 AM
Partners in
Prayer

26

17
9:00 to
12:00
Church Council Retreat

6:00 to 7:00
Food Pantry
Night

19

6:00

16

7:30 PM
NA Meeting
23

24
7:30 PM
NA Meeting

30

31
7:30 PM
NA Meeting

Welcoming a New Year!

a new year stands on my doorstep
ready to enter my lifes journey.

the challenge of a years goodbye

something in me welcomes this visitor:

the hope of bountiful blessings
the joy of a new beginning
the freshness of unclaimed surprises
something in me rebuffs this visitor:
the swiftness of the coming
the boldness of the entrance

joy jumps in my eyes,

for there beside this brand-new year
something in me fears this visitor:
stands my God with outstretched
the unnamed events of future days
hand!
the wisdom needed to walk love well
He smiles and gently asks of me:
the demands of giving away and
can we walk this year together?
growing
and I, so overwhelmed with gooda new year stands on my doorstep.
ness,
with fragile caution I move
can barely whisper my reply:
to open the door for its entrance.
welcome in!
my heart leaps with surprise,

By Joyce Rupp in Fresh Bread and other Gifts of Spiritual Nourishment

CHURCH COUNCIL RETREAT

January 17, 9:00-12:00
Fellowship Hall
All 2015 Church Council members are invited to a time of fellowship, orientation and planning for the new year.
Alan Baker
Susanne Black
Leigh Bradley
Lisa Camp
Dana Colvard
Karen Cooper

Glenn Crawley
JoAnn Crawley
Joe Duvall
Jill Ferguson
Beth Harrington
Janice Henson

Paul Horan
Grier Hurley
Charles Jones
Kevin Kurtz
Margo Levi
Tuck McClure

Wilma McClure
Karen Miller
Mitch Phillips
Betsy Reeves
Wade Sanders
Gaylord Snyder

Maranda Thompson
Tracy Vannoy
Christina Wagoner
Donna Weaver

Save the
Date
and save your stuff for
March 28th JUMBLE.
A JUMBLE is like a yard sale
but all proceeds go to the
stained glass window
refurbishment.

Welcome!

USA

Jefferson United Methodist

Church
P.O. Box 236
115 East Main Street
Jefferson, NC 28640

FOREVER

Were on the web!

www.jefferson-umc.org

OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS, OPEN DOORS

Generosity

Show Our Love, Share Gods Gifts.

One of my resolutions for 2015 is to be more generous in all areas of my life. I've been the recipient
of so much generosity on the part of others, from my parents and grandparents, to church members,
to marvelous friends. It is a quality that I admire in others, but have not cultivated in myself as much
as I would like. I read a quote about generosity that set my feet on a new path.
.

"Generosity is both a moral virtue and a philanthropic practice.

As a virtue, generosity is a habit of the heart having to do with both our being and our behaving.
Generosity describes people who are gracious, benevolent, open-hearted, kind and grace-giving. In
Christian scriptures it is a word used to describe God as 'kind' and 'generous.'
As a practice, Christians mirror this virtue in the way they relate to other people and use the possessions with which they have been blessed."
This year I am looking for ways that my approach to life, to people, and to the future can reflect the
kind of enormous generosity of spirit that Jesus exemplified when he walked the earth. In the past
I've worried more about running out of things than whether or not I'm doing everything God has
asked me to do. It's a new year, with a new resolution to be generous in all areas of my life. Do you
want to join me?
Karen Miller