March & AprilNewsletter HAYMOUNT UMC
March & April 2026
A Note From the Pastor
Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
Greetings in the Name of Jesus Christ, the One Who Is, Was, and Is to Come!
This note finds us walking through Lent, a 40-day season leading up to Easter, where we focus our heads and hearts toward Jerusalem.
Why Jerusalem? Because Jerusalem was the center of the Jewish world. Jews made a pilgrimage and climbed the roads and paths that ultimately led to the temple. Historically, the temple was understood to be the place where heaven and earth met. Celtic Christianity later came to call this meeting space a "thin place." And Jesus is going to Jerusalem and the temple to change that understanding
As Jesus and his disciples emerge from the temple, they will note the building's impressive structure, and Jesus will prophesy that not one stone will be left standing together (see Matthew 24:1-2, Mark 13:1-2, and Luke 21:5-6). He will also say, "destroy this temple, and in three days I raise it up" (John will rebuild it in three days" (John 2:19, see Matthew 26:61 and Mark 14:58). Jesus was not promising to rebuild the temple proper; he was promis body, he was becoming God's new temple saying to those with ears to hear: "I am the am the place where heaven and earth now t
Jesus became flesh and blood to help us mo relationship with God mediated through the the actions of the temple priests That is, be know Jesus, we know God Because Jesus c "Father," we are enabled to call God "Fathe adopted into a new family and an eternal inh only that, when we become part of this fam part of the body of Christ. Let me state this Christians, we now are a place where heaven touch
Paul says it this way, "for God's temple is holy, and you are that temple (1 Corinthians 3:17) Now, while the Psalmist affirms that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made," the prospect of bearing God's presence often seems overwhelming to me.
So our faces are turned toward Jerusalem with Jesus We begin the journey off the Mount of Transfiguration and begin the several day walk along the Jordan River When we arrive in Jericho, we will turn our faces Westward and begin praying the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134) as we climb toward Bethany. There we will pause and scan the beauty of Jerusalem and marvel at the temple's beauty Perhaps, like Jesus, we will weep at the site of the golden temple. More importantly, the temple's hold on our worship is forever diminished by the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus
When we come to the communion table, we proclaim "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again " This holy mystery, revealed through Jesus, is the reason our head and hearts yearn for Jerusalem's glory. And as citizens of God's soon-coming and already-arriving kingdom, we join Jesus on the journey so that he might transform our lives from this time forward
March & April Birthdays
March 1
Kim Feldmeyer
Larry Holcomb
Janet Jones
Brently Teal
March 2
Mandy Brown
Jamie Violette
Ben Wolf
March 3
Hunter Canady
Angelina Cartrette
Beverly Storms
March 4
Jenna Belliveau
Hannah Cole
March 5
Jo Beth Johnson
March 6
Ann Dempster
Gina Puryear
Jay Wyatt
March 8
L Amabile
Dorothy Funkhouser
March 9
Bennett DuBois
Gavin Wheeler
March 10
Lukas Whitehouse
March 11
Janie Hess
Sharon Lewis
Wes Lockfaw
Davis Puryear
March 12
Cat Cade
Eric Feldmeyer
Dayle Fowler
March 13
Robert Uriarte
March 14
Braxton Wheeler
March 15
Katy Preston
March 16
Reagan Batdorff
Adrian Blanding
McLean Dine
March 17
Cheryl Brown
Patty Runkle
March 18
Rhonda Greenway
Katherine Vanias
March 19
Nick Potter
Georgia Ross
March 21
Arleen Fields
Emily Herring
March 22
William Allen
Bingham
Wayne Stack
Kimberly Thomas
March 26
Betty Dubois
March 28
Sydney Neal
Barbara Hodgson
March 30
Curtis Dean
Morgan Puryear
Bobbie Redding
March 31
Nate Dine
Julian Norris
April 1
Brenda Booth
Dailah Cole
April 2
Imogene Dulaney
David Oliver
Holly Pendergraft
April 3
Joann Herron
Mark Hurley
April 4
Barbara Bodnar
Kim Cofiori
Savannah Fann
Selah Fann
Bob Fry
April 5
Bob Allen
Becky Spade
Melanie Wheeler
April 6
Olive Tally
April 8
Reba Wheeler
April 9
Jack Lancaster
April 10
Steve Belliveau
Phillip Howard
Gregory Koonce
April 11
John Blanding, II
John Walker
April 12
Lilia Vazquez-
Hunter
Dyana White
April 13
Mary Maxton
Fowler
April 14
Barbara Overman
April 15
Leah Gray
Sara Moeller
JoAnn Stanford
April 16
Peggy Harkey
April 17
Kim Hailey
April 18
Earle Allen
Susan Black
Sarah Meoni
April 20
Jan Gothard
April 21
Janet Hobgood
Fernando Uriarte
April 22
Madeline Potter
Gracie Prince
Robert Tew
April 23
Kathy Maxwell
April 24
Susan Oliver
John Wheeler
April 25
Matthew Brookover
Vic Carnevale
April 26
Kirby White
April 27
Silas Murray
Vicki Richardson
April 28
Linda Kraushaar
April 30
Rebecca Blackman
Sarah Mahlke
Memorials and Honoraria
Memorials have been given to the glory of God in the memory of:
John Briggs by: Carl Williford
Dwayne Aaron by: Phil & Katherine Pugh, Lynda Clark
Ann McAlister by: John McAlister
Dr. William L. Bingham by: Margaret Hedgecoe, Rick & Brenda Booth, Phil & Katherine Pugh, Greg & Taylor Whitley, Wes & Lucy Jones, Mark & Kim Hurley, Kelly & Gina Puryear, Barrington Sunday School Class, Tim & Vicki Richardson
Sonda Nobles by: Phil & Katherine Pugh, Dena Futrell, Rick & Brenda Booth, Mark & Kim Hurley, Bob Lawson, Sarah Meoni, Joan Elliot
Special Gifts Were Given To:
Preschool, Book Nook, Columbarium, Ruth Jones Endowment
Haymount United Methodist Church
1700 Fort Bragg Road
Fayetteville, NC 28303
910 484 0181
Lead Pastor
Rev. Allen Bingham allenbingham@haymountumc com
Pastor
Rev. Donald Warren donaldwarren@haymountumc.com
Director of Contemporary Worship
Katie Powers katie@haymountumc com
Director of Traditional Worship
Wes Lockfaw weslockfaw@haymountumc com
Director of Children and Families Ministries
Rachel Madsen rachel.madsen@haymountumc.com
Director of Youth Ministries
Jessica Scott jessica@haymountumc com
Director of Special Projects
Karen Barkman karen.barkman@haymountumc.com
Director of Finance
Nicole Andre nicole@haymountumc com
Communications Coordinator
Morgan Bunker morgan@haymountumc.com
We invite you to find a time in your schedule to join us during Holy Week We are offering multiple services throughout Holy Week, giving most an opportunity to join us during this reverent time All worship services are free and open to all We hope you invite your friends, family, and neighbors to partake in one or all of these services For questions or concerns regarding the Holy Week schedule contact our Church Office
Maundy Thursday Service in our Sanctuary on April 2 at 7pm
Good Friday Service in our Sanctuary on April 3 at 7pm
Easter Sunrise Service on our Front Lawn on April 5 at 7am
Easter Contemporary Service in our NLC on April 5 at 9am
Easter Traditoinal Service in our Sanctuary on April 5 at 11am
Say Cheese! Sign up for Church Directory Photography Today
Would you like to have your family or individual photo taken for our 2026 Church Directory?
You can schedule to have your photo taken at one of the available dates and times (March 2428) by visiting www.ucdir.com. Once there you will need to enter the church code of NC616 and the password of “photos” to access the available timeslots. If you encounter issues scheduling your directory photos, please contact our Church Office, and we can assist you. Having your photo taken for our directory is free of charge, but photos will be made available for you to purchase For questions, contact our Church Office!
MomCo is an international organization whose mission is to encourage and equip moms of young children to realize their potential as mothers, women, and leaders in relationship with Jesus and in partnership with the local church
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our church community for stopping by Sweet Frog Frozen Yogurt in January to support our fundraiser! Over the last few months, we have had the privilege of welcoming new mothers from both the Fayetteville and military communities, hosting a book and toy swap, and working together to donate baby supplies in support of a local diaper pantry. We hope you can join us for more fun in March and April- in addition to our regular meetings, we’ll join our church family at the Easter Eggstravaganza, organized by HUMC Children’s Ministry, and look forward to a playground playdate to enjoy the spring weather with our little ones!
At our monthly meetings and events we enjoy time to fellowship with other moms, engage in meaningful discussions, and grow in our faith and God-given calling as mothers. If you, or someone you know, is interested in joining MomCo at HUMC, we would LOVE to have you! Please reach out to us at haymountmops@haymountumc com for more information about joining our next meeting or event
Calendar of Events
March & April 2026
Thursday, March 12: MomCo Meeting 5:30-7:00 PM (HUMC Room 208) Childcare provided Saturday, March 21: HUMC Easter Eggstravaganza 3:00-5:00 PM, Bring your Family!
Thursday, April 16: MomCo Meeting 5:30-7:00 PM (HUMC Room 208) Childcare provided
Saturday April 18: Playdate Meetup at HUMC Playground 10:00-11:00 AM
Small Steps, Big Discoveries
Join our HUMC Preschool Family
Registration is open for the 2026-2027 HUMC Preschool school year! We offer a loving environment for your little ones, centered around teaching them about Christ’s love. If you are interested in registering your child, you can email our preschool director, Laurie Ashley, at humcpreschool@haymountumc.com for more information. Additionally, we currently have openings in our infant, young toddlers, young threes, and four year old classrooms for the remainder of this year! If you are interested, reach out to Laurie Ashley at the email above. Our preschool is also looking for substitutes! If you or someone you know has a passion for children, please reach out to learn more about this opportunity!
Available Altar Flower Dates
Make your reservation TODAY!
Altar flowers for the 2026 calendar year may now be reserved The dates below reflect the available Sundays where you may reserve the Altar Flowers in honor or in memory of someone, or to commemorate a special day in your life The cost of reserving the altar flowers will be $115 beginning in 2026 On dates where no one has reserved the altar flowers, flowers will not be ordered for the sanctuary To reserve your altar flowers today, contact our Church Office
March 15
March 22
Heart And Soul
April 12
May 17
June 07
July 19
July 26
August 02
How We are Caring for our Congregation at HUMC
August 09
August 16
September 06
September 13
September 20
November 29
At Haymount United Methodist Church, our Congregational Care team embodies the warmth and compassion that defines our community This team is committed to providing heartfelt support to those facing challenges in their lives Meeting on the first Monday of every month at 1:00 PM, they come together to discuss prayer concerns, ensuring that every voice is heard and uplifted This collaborative spirit not only strengthens our bonds but also fosters a rich environment of spiritual growth, as each meeting includes a meaningful devotion that nurtures both emotional and spiritual healing We invite all members to share their prayer requests, as it is through these connections that we truly embody the essence of community If this ministry sounds like something you would enjoy, we invite you to contact Katherine Pugh to learn more at 910-797-9278. Take a look below at what some of our Congregational Care Team members have to say about this ministry!
“The Care Team meetings serve to remind me of the ongoing needs of our church community, and I see the benefit of the group working together to provide help and support where needed. It helps when the team is made up of representatives from each internal church group to provide a broader support net”
“For me I see being on the Care Team as an honor. An honor that they selected me and put their confidence and trust in me that I would fervently lift up the ones on our prayer list in continuous prayers for comfort, healing, guidance, or any other needs for prayer. This is a special team ”
“Serving on the Care Team builds my prayer life ”
Mission Ministry Updates
March Garage Sale
March 13 and 14
Our next garage sale will take place on March 13-14! Come shop the best selection of furniture, home goods, jewelry, and accessories. Proceeds from this garage sale will go to support the mission efforts of our Mission Committee as well as our Youth. Do you have items you would like to donate to our sale? We are accepting items now through the day before our sale! Bring them to our Church office during normal business hours and we will handle the rest! For additional information on the sale, or to find out how to get involved, contact Karen Barkman at 910-818-9050.
Christmas To Remember Update
A “Thank You” form your Missions Committee
Thanks to the congregation for your generosity with the Christmas to Remember offering. This year we were able to raise $53,470.00! We are constantly in awe of the generosity of our congregation, and their dedication supporting the mission efforts of HUMC! Below you will see how the funds were disbursed to our three chosen projects Fayetteville Family Life Center received $15,423.33. Jeremiah Project received $16,373.33. Impact Global Health Alliance received $21,673.34.
El Salvador Mission Trip
Join our 2026 Work Team
Haymount United Methodist Church will be taking a Mission trip to El Salvador August 1-8, 2026. If you are unable to attend in person, a zoom option will be offered. We currently have a team consisting of both adults and children aged 10-15! The cost for the trip is roughly $600 in-country expenses per person, not including airfare. Contact Wes Jones to learn more at 910-977-2568.
Center Trip
May 2, 2026
On May 2 , a group from Haymount UMC will be traveling to the MERCI Center in Goldsboro, NC to help assemble School Kits for children and schools in need in surrounding areas. We will be departing the parking lot of HUMC at 8:30 AM, and there will be carpooling options available! This is a great service opportunity for individuals or entire families! If you are interested in learning more, or would like to participate in this day of service, contact Laurie Doherty at 910-988-4265.
HUMC KIDS UPDATE
HUMC Ladies Tea
Register Here!
HUMC Children and Families Ministries invites ladies of all ages to join us for a delightful morning tea time with sweet and savory treats, a variety of traditional & herbal teas and gentle conversations. Tea registration is $15 per person by April 8. Raffle tickets will be available by cash purchase for basket prizes at the Tea. Fascinators and hats are encouraged, but surely not required! Thank you for joining us to support this Children and Families Ministries fundraiser. We look forward to seeing you there!
EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA
Join us for our annual Easter stravaganza on March 21 at 3:00 PM in r New Life Center! We will have games, rafts, photo opportunities, and our much ticipated Easter Egg hunt! This event is ree and open to the public so bring your ends and family to this hopping good time! e are currently in need of pre-filled eggs, ndy donations, and event volunteers! For ore information, or to volunteer to help th this event, contact Rachel Madsen at rachel madsen@haymountumc com
Our annual Day Camp at Camp Rockfish will be held June 17-19! Be sure to mark your calendars for one of our most anticipated events of the year! More information, and registration links will be available soon!
rachel.madsen@haymountumc.com
Midyear C.R.E.S.P Report
Submitted by Denise Rowe
Helping Cumberland Road Elementary School is one of the missions at Haymount. So far this year, we have made a donation of $1000.00 directly to the school so that they can use the money for needs that they choose Right before Christmas, we delivered about 400 mittens and hats that were donated to us from the knitting group at Village Drive Baptist Church. We donated 4 carloads of school supplies at the beginning of the year, and another load in early January. Of course, we have volunteers who go every week to help in classrooms and in other ways. In the Spring we will be purchasing a book for every single child in the school for them to take home when school gets out for the summer! If you ever feel that you would like to be a part of this mission in any way, please contact Denise Rowe at Beachyneesey@ aol.com. Include your phone number so I can put it in my contacts because I do not answer numbers that I don’t recognize
It’s That Time of The Year!
Endowment Committee’s Request for Disbursement Applications
The Endowment Committee spring deadline for endowment disbursments is April 15. Church committees and ministries can apply by application for disbursements for the endowment funds listed below. Please contact the Finance Office for any questions The applications are on the door of the finance office
Due April 15 by 5 PM:
Marlin Stewart Fund: For camp scholarships and preschool scholarships for underprivileged children.
Nellie Smith Arts Fund: For worship arts and art education.
Dayton A. Dawson Fund: For needs of underprivileged children. Hedgecoe-Bergland Endowment: For Christian Spiritual Formation.
Ruth Jones Facilities Fund and Wesley Heights Fund (For Facilities) Disbursement decision made by Trustees Committee
Fred & Rennie Beyer Fund for Piano Maintenance Disbursement decision made by the Music Department
HUMC Mission Fund and Barkman Mission 50/50 Fund Disbursement decision madeby the Missions Committee
Music Ministry News
The Crucifixion by John Stainer
April 03, 7:00 PM
This Good Friday, April 3, the Chancel Choir joined by local singers and orchestra will present a timeless work by John Stainer, “The Crucifixion”. The piece relates the Biblical narrative of the Passion and Crucifixion of Jesus making it particularly appropriate for the observation of Holy Week and, particularly, Good Friday.
The Crucifixion was originally scored for four part choir and organ, featuring solos for bass (or baritone) and tenor Structurally, it is
based on the traditional format of the Passions by Johann Sebastian Bach, with a Biblical narrative interspersed with choruses, solos and hymns reflecting on the Passion story Stainer intended the piece to be within the scope of most parish church choirs; it includes five hymns for congregational participation. The text consists of extracts from the King James Bible with poetic material written by W. J. Sparrow Simpson, the librettist of Stainer's earlier cantata Mary Magdalene. The work is dedicated "to my pupil and friend W. Hodge and the choir of Marylebone Church", who first performed it on February 24, 1887, the day after Ash Wednesday. There have been performances in Marylebone Church annually since then.
The presentation that will take place at Haymount this Good Friday is a rare opportunity in that it will be performed with orchestra Recently, composer Iain Farrington scored the moving work for orchestra allowing for a new look into the nuances employed by John Stainer and creating a fresh new look for this timecherished work
Be a Part of the Choir for Stainer’s Crucifixion
For those who love to sing, we welcome anyone who would like to be a part of this exciting performance. Individuals do not need to be a regular member of the choir to sing in “The Crucifixion”. The rehearsal schedule follows, and rehearsals will take place in the choir room If more information is needed, please contact weslockfaw@haymountumc com
Wednesday, February 25
7-8 pm
Wednesday, March 4
7-8 pm
Sunday, March 8
12:30-2:30 pm
Wednesday, March 11
7-8 pm
Sunday, March 15
12:30-2:30 pm
Wednesday, March 18
7-8 pm
Wednesday, March 25
7-8 pm
Sunday, March 29
12:30-2:30 pm
Wednesday, April 1
6:30-7:30 pm Dress Rehearsal Friday, April 3
6 pm Warm-up
7 pm Performance
Save the Date for our annual Scout Sunday where we honor all of the hard work our scouts have been doing all year. This year Scout Sunday will be held M h 22 d i b h nd
MARCH & APRIL 2026
MERCI CENTER VISIT
Our HUMC Youth will be traveling to Goldsboro, NC on May 2 to the MERCI Center to help assemble school kits! This trip is open to anyone who would like to attend! If you would like to learn more, contact Jessica Scott at jessica@haymountumc.com.
Kaleidoscope 2026 will take place April 17-19! Our HUMC youth will be attending. To register, you must do so through the district website!
Registration is required by April 5
Contact Jessica Scott for questions.
Upcoming Fellowship Lunches
March 19 & April 16
Please plan to join us in the New Life Center at noon for lunch and bingo! Only one request, please call or text Katherine Pugh at 910-797-9278 to let her know that you are planning on attending
As always, thank you to the Senior Adult Endowment Funds for making this possible We hope to see you there!
Finance Update
From your Finance Committee
As always, we are so grateful to the congregation of Haymount UMC for the faithful ways that you financially support the ministries and missions of our church. Together, we are involved in so many ways in the work that God is doing here in our community and in the world beyond.
Many of you take advantage of our online giving opportunities using the church's Realm app. If you have automatic giving set up through Realm, now would be a good time to check and make sure your giving is still happening automatically and that the amounts are correct. When we cross from one fiscal year into another, the automated giving might discontinue, or maybe the amounts changed because you increased your pledge and you need to adjust your automated giving to the new amount. If you have questions about how to restart or adjust your automatic giving, please reach out to Nicole Andre, our Director of Finance, in the church office at (910) 484-0181 or by email at nicole.andre@haymountumc.com. If you would like to set up automatic giving, Nicole can help with that as well!
Thank you for your faithful financial witness of God's grace in your life! May our grateful hearts always praise God the Creator, who blesses us each and every day!
Trustees Update
From your Trustees Committee
The Trustees continue to address the needs of our physical building and grounds so that we have a safe and beautiful space in which to carry out the work of Jesus here in this place.
Our building is large and requires constant diligence to keep it in good shape The trustees have tried hard to address many deferred maintenance needs in the last few years One of our largest facilities components is the heating and air conditioning system There are 25 gas packs/heat pumps that cover the older parts of the building, while the newer part of the building is on one massive four-pipe HVAC system that uses two 70-ton chillers and two boilers to heat the New Life Center, the kitchen, the preschool and the upstairs classrooms on the new side. This massive system consists of 7 air handlers and a myriad of dampers, pumps, and other moving parts.
The two chillers were installed in 2007, and are at the end of their useful life. One of them is currently functioning at about 25% of its rated capacity. Replacing them requires a large crane and a lot of prep work in and around the site, plus electrical upgrades Trustees have signed a contract with Superior Mechanical out of Wilmington, NC to replace the two chillers, at a cost of about $305,000 This work will take several months to complete This is a significant cost to the church outside of the regular operating budget If you would like to make an additional contribution to help with this crucial project, please donate to the church's "Building Fund" or the "Trustees Immediate Needs" fund We welcome all the financial support we can get to help us get this very needed and important upgrade completed!
Liturgical Ramblings
With Donald Warren
Lent – February 22 – April 4
A forty-day season of penitence and self-reflection that Christians use as a time to prepare themselves for the celebration of Easter through fasting and self-denial It recalls the forty-day journey of Jesus in the wilderness, where he fasted and prayed and resisted the temptations of the devil Sundays within Lent are not counted as part of the forty days, because Sundays are always a “little Easter,” a day of remembering the resurrection of Jesus
Feast of St. Patrick – March 17
Saint Patrick's Day is a religious and cultural holiday held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland Historically, the Lenten restrictions on fasting and drinking alcohol were lifted for the day, which has encouraged the holiday's tradition of revelry.
Laetere Sunday – March 14
Observed on the fourth Sunday in Lent, Laetere Sunday is a day of celebration on which the austerity of Lent is “paused” for one day and the practice of fasting is suspended. It is often called Rose Sunday, because the clergy wear pink vestments instead of deep purple, in recognition of it being a day of celebration. It is also called Mothering Sunday, meaning a celebration of “Mother Churches,” the church in which a believer is baptized and raised. In some traditions, Christian will travel home to visit their “Mother Church” on this Sunday.
Feast of the Annunciation
–
March 25
Also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary or the Annunciation of the Lord, this feast commemorates the day, according to the Gospel of Luke, the announcement made by the archangel Gabriel to Mary that she would conceive and bear a son through a virgin birth and become the mother of Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Son of God, marking the Incarnation.
Holy Week – March 29 – April 5
Holy Week is a season in which the church remembers the journey of Christ leading up to Easter day, beginning with Palm Sunday Holy Monday remembers the cursing of the fig tree, the cleansing of the Temple, and the anointing of Jesus at Bethany Holy Tuesday remembers the instances in the gospel of John where Jesus predicts his death Holy Wednesday, also called Spy Wednesday, remembers the action of Judas Iscariot making a deal with the chief priests and Temple authorities to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver
Palm Sunday – March 29
Palm Sunday remembers the Triumphal Entry, the palm processional into Jerusalem in which branches and cloaks were spread on the road before Jesus as the crowds proclaimed, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” This occurs during the Jewish festival of Passover
Passover – April 1 - April 9
A Jewish festival based on the Book of Exodus, recalling how God liberated the Israelites from slavery in Egypt after a series of ten plagues, allowing them to flee quickly without time for their bread to rise Marking the door posts with lamb’s blood told the Angel of Death to skip, or “pass over,” the homes of the faithful
Maundy Thursday – April 2
Maundy Thursday remembers Jesus and the disciples gathering in the Upper Room to celebrate what is now called The Last Supper The breaking of bread and sharing of wine at this supper become what the church now calls Communion, the Lord’s Supper, or the Eucharist After supper, they sang a hymn together and went to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives so Jesus could pray It is in Gethsemane that Judas betrays Jesus
Good Friday – April 3
Good Friday remembers the crucifixion of Jesus at “the place of the skull,” also called Golgotha or Calvary Jesus dies around 3:00 pm, and is taken and placed in a tomb, which is then sealed by the Roman authorities
Holy Saturday – April 4
Holy Saturday remembers “The Harrowing of Hell,” in which Jesus, according to the creeds, “descended into Hell” and preached salvation to all who had died since the beginning of the world In part, this teaching is a testimony to the fact that Jesus died a physical death and his soul went to the place of the dead just as every human’s soul had done before. In many Christian traditions, Hell is considered empty following the Harrowing of Hell. It is alluded to in scripture in Matthew 12:40, Matthew 27:50-54, Acts 2:24, Acts 2:31, Ephesians 4:9, Colossians 1:18, 1 Peter 3:18-19, and 1 Peter 4:6.
Easter Sunday – April 5
Easter Sunday remembers the resurrection of Jesus, which is recounted in all four gospels. In each of the stories, it is the women who discover the empty tomb and learn of the risen Christ.
Quasimodo Sunday / Thomas Sunday -April 12
The Sunday after Easter is called Quasimodo Sunday from the Latin words for the traditional introit of the day, “Quasi modo géniti infántes, alleluia!” or, “As newborn babes, alleluia!” It is also called Thomas Sunday because the gospel lesson is always the story of Jesus appearing the Disciples without Thomas present, and Thomas doubts their story until Christ appears again when Thomas is with them. Anglo-Catholic traditions also refer to this day as Divine Mercy Sunday.
gentle, practical workshop designed to help you think through these important decisions in a supportive and faith-filled setting.
Pastors Allen, Woody, and Donald will walk with you through the process of planning a meaningful funeral or memorial service. Together, we’ll explore how to choose scripture and music that reflect your faith and story, how to support family or friends who may offer eulogies, and how to write an obituary that truly honors a life and leaves a legacy of hope.
Along the way, you’ll hear thoughtful theological reflections on grief, resurrection, and the ways Christian worship helps us remember, mourn, and give thanks. Whether you are planning your own service or helping a loved one prepare, you’ll gain practical tools and peace of mind.
This workshop is not about fear it’s about love, clarity, and caring well for those who remain. Come with your questions, your curiosity, or simply a willingness to begin the conversation.
Everyone is welcome. Lunch will be provided. Let’s take this important step together.
Wednesday Evening Fellowship Winter and Spring Seasons!
We look forward to seeing you at WEF this year! Registration for the entire season, as well as for individual weeks is open now! Remember to register by 5PM on the Monday before your desired meal by visiting our website or calling our church office! We need about 12 volunteers each week to make this ministry function Please look for the time to work that fits your schedule To sign up for volunteering, please call Carol Lloyd 910-988-1803 or Susan Black 910-988-1238.
March 4 Blackmon’s Country Style Steak, corn pudding, squash casserole, green beans, roll
GF Hamburger steak, corn, green beans
Kid’s choice hot dog, fruit, chips
March 11 Southern Coals Pulled Pork, slaw, baked beans, potato salad, roll
GF pulled pork, slaw, baked beans
Kid’s choice chicken nuggets, fruit, chips
March 18 Mellow Mushroom pizza, salad bar
GF options available
No Kid’s choice
March 25 MiCasita Beef or Chicken Taco Bar, chips and salsa
GF options available
No Kid’s choice
April 1 Chason’s Fried Pork Chops, mac and cheese, lima beans, collards, roll
GF pork chops, lima beans, collards
Kid’s choice mac and cheese, fruit, roll
April 8 SPRING BREAK, NO WEF
April 15 Sammio’s Spaghetti w/meatballs, salad bar, breadstick
GF pasta with marina, salad bar
Kid’s choice plain pasta with butter and parmesan, fruit, roll UWF selling desserts
April 22 Hunan Black Pepper Chicken (a little peppery but not hot), or Chicken with mixed veggies in a white sauce, rice, spring rolls
GF Chicken with mixed veggies in a white sauce, rice
Kid’s choice chicken nuggets, fruit, chips
April 29 Ham, yams, broccoli, turnip greens, roll
GF Ham, sweet potato, turnip greens
Kid’s choice hot dog, fruit, chips
May 6 Chason’s Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, field peas, green beans
GF Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans
Kid’s choice chicken nuggets, fruit, chips
UWF selling desserts
May 13 Culver’s Hamburger or Chicken Sandwich, mac and cheese, slaw, frozen custard
GF options available
No Kid’s choice
HAVE A GREAT SUMMER, SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER!
