April is one of the most beautiful months of the year. The trees begin to green, flowers push up through the soil, and the world seems to wake up again. That is part of what makes Easter so fitting for this season. The Church does not celebrate Easter as just one Sunday, but as a whole season of resurrection, joy, and new life. And that is the good news we need.
During Lent, as we have worked through the atonement theories in worship, one truth keeps rising to the surface: whatever language we use to describe salvation, it all points to the same reality. In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God has acted for us. Jesus has done for us what we could never do for ourselves.
Scripture says it plainly: “By grace you have been saved through faith… it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). “For freedom Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1). “If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
That is Easter. That is spring. That is grace. Wesley cared deeply about holiness, but he was clear that grace comes first. We do not transform ourselves so God will love us. God loves us, and by grace begins transforming us.
So the message of Easter is not “try harder.” It is not “fix yourself.” It is this: Jesus Christ is risen, and you are free.
Maybe that is the word we most need to hear this month: Jesus has saved us, so we can stop resisting grace and receive it. Holiness matters. Discipleship matters. But they come after grace. They are the fruit of resurrection, not the cause of it.
You cannot shame a flower into blooming. New life is a gift. So is resurrection. So is grace. As spring unfolds around us, may we hear again the good news: Christ is risen. The tomb is empty. Grace is real. And God is still making all things new.
With hope and joy, Andrew
P.S. Last month, I had the pleasure of showing Ms. Elise Krigline and her son Michael around our church. Elise was a member of our church many years ago and her son Michael was confirmed here before they moved north. It was special to show them around as Elise, along with a few others, was responsible for starting our preschool in 1967. It was a pleasure to introduce Elise to our Preschool Director Susan Mitchell who gave Elise a tour of our newly renovated preschool. Both of us were so thankful to hear stories about how the preschool began with 25 four and five year olds. Now our school serves 150 students and their families. It was inspiring to meet Ms. Elise and then walk around in the legacy of her e orts. Susan and I were both amazed to be able to hear all about those early days. I am so grateful for those who helped Ms. Elise begin such an important ministry of our church, and I am inspired by the way that God continues to move in the hearts of our littlest ones and those that guide them.
Friends, the peace of Jesus Christ be with you all!
Iwant to take the opportunity to thank you all for your prayers, well wishes, and meal assistance as we welcomed our new daughter, Mary-Wallace, into the world. For my family, it is a time of complicated joy and grief. Mary-Wallace is a wonderful source of delight, and Wallace’s presence is also continually with us. He is missed daily. We are grateful for those who help us hold both the joy and the sorrow.
At the church, we have an exciting opportunity that I would like for you all to be aware of. We are starting a new, temporary Sunday School class, cleverly called the New Class. If you are new to the church or have not found a Sunday School class to join into yet, we encourage you to join us for these six weeks!
Here are the details:
• Who: Connor, new(er) adult members/visitors to the church, and those who are still searching for a Sunday School class home.
• What: A six-week study focused on “Basic Bible”-- what is the bible, how do we understand it, and how do we faithfully read and understand it as Christians?
• When: Sundays April 12th- May 17th, from 9:45-10:45AM,
• Where: Upstairs in the Annex Hall (bank-like building) in room 209.
• Why: To grow our faith in community, and to better understand the Bible, what it means, and how its authority should shape our lives.
If you haven’t joined a Sunday School class yet, please join us for this series! Your presence is a welcome addition. We are very excited about this opportunity to grow in our faith together, as the body of Christ.
We are winding down in our journey through Lent together. The cross is growing nearer, as is the wonder and the mystery of the resurrection at Easter. God speaks to us during this season- I pray that we can take the time to listen.
Grace and Peace, Connor
Holy Week Holy Week
Mar 29
EASTER EGG HUNT 12:15PM | FIRST AVENUE PARK
Apr
Apr 2
PALM SUNDAY WORSHIP 8:30AM & 11:00AM | SANCTUARY
WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUPPER 5:30-6:30PM | PARISH HALL
MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE 7:00PM | SANCTUARY
April 5 - Easter Sunday
SUNRISE ECUMENICAL SERVICE 7:00AM | FIRST AVE PARK
Remember to bring cut flowers with you to church for the cross outside the sanctuary
Mission & Outreach Committee
HOW TO VOLUNTEER FOR MISSIONS
Contact Peter Sheren - peterandivonne@gmail.com or Lee Berry - lee@leeberry.com
One Roof Monthly Donations | April 19, 2026 – Please bring the following: canned meats (tuna, spam, Vienna sausages, chicken breast, Manwich, sardines) baked beans, rice, grits, oatmeal, fruit, mixed veggies and jelly. We also encourage you to volunteer with One Roof.
The Thrift Store, open 10:00am to 5:00 pm Mondays-Saturdays, needs volunteers to help organize and process donations and clean.
The Food Pantry has food items to be sorted and boxed and prepared for distribution. The O ce needs help occasionally and for special events. Helping hands always welcome!
Give It Up For Lent | Now-Easter Sunday - This is the biggest fundraiser for Bridging The Gap (BTG) of the year for Newnan FUMC. Our goal is $12,000. Last year our goal was $11,000, which we exceeded. If you missed the deadline, it’s not too late! Mark your gift GIUFL. Our final report on donations will be published in the May Shepherd.
Art Ministry Outreach (AMO) - Our second AMO Exhibit kicked o on March 7th and runs through June 4th. The exhibit consists of artwork from 23 artists who have produced 35 pieces, both painted and photographed. We are especially excited to have the girls from Angel’s House create art pieces for the gallery.
SAVE THE DATE: Mission Trip | October 4-8, 2026 - The Hinton Center, in Hayesville, NC, is a retreat and mission outreach agency of the Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church. The Boomers on Outreach Mission (BOOM) ministry is for adults 60+ (but we’re not checking IDs!). Participants have come from all over, including Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and local residents. The week includes working on home repair projects, meaningful worship, learning about rural poverty, enjoying the local area, plus Appalachian music and dancing, and cultivating community with one another. All skill levels needed — everyone can serve and participate! Watch the September 2025 BOOM week video HERE. As soon as the registration links are posted you’ll be notified. In the meantime, let the Mission Team know that you are interested in attending. We do have the buses reserved for the trip, depending on participation.
Bridging the Gap Summer Lunch Program | June 8-12, 2026 – Our church will distribute 125+/- nutritious sack lunches to students out of school for the summer. We will ask various groups and Sunday School classes to take a day to purchase, pack, and distribute lunches.
NEST | April - The NEST, the local warming shelter for the area’s homeless residents, is operating now through the last of the cold weather. April is an i y month for cold weather. Located at Bridging the Gap, volunteers are needed from the community to assist on Saturday and Sunday. If you are interested in volunteering or need more information, please call 678-208-9101 or send an email to nest@ restartcoweta.org.
Please connect directly to volunteer with one of our local Mission Partners: Bridging the Gap, Samaritan’s Clinic, and One Roof.
Paul Mosley
Youth Director
pmosley@NewnanFUMC.org
770.253.7400 (x219)
Y’all… March has been busy, but, man, what a great month! Confirmation Sunday was one of the best days of the year so far. It was so awesome to celebrate these students and their families. Thank you to everyone who came out in support of the hard work each confirmand put in. We also went on our Confirmation Retreat one weekend in March, which was an absolute blast. They are a wonderful group of young people!
At Sunday Night UTH, we have spent the whole month diving into the concept of influence and how our students have even more of an impact that they could ever imagine. This series is called the Butterfly E ect and would love to share more about it with you so come ask me about it some time! We have also been doing a bible study focusing on looking at the Gospels as a whole on Wednesday mornings, and our seniors have been looking towards the future at our Sticky Faith study on Wednesday Night!
This month we have Spring Break and Easter alongside a lot of great events planned! April 19 is our PreSummer Parents meeting and the night our Seniors will put their Final Handprint on the wall. We have two fun adventures upcoming: our Spring Small Group Scatter on April 26 and UTHapalooza on May 3. I can’t wait for all the awesome programming and growth we have in store this month. Come join us.
Senior Sunday: May 17, 2026
The end of the School year is fast approaching and for our oldest UTH that means graduation. We want to collect some information from you, so we can honor your seniors on Senior Sunday, May 17, 2026. Please follow the QR code to the left and answer as much of the form as you can. The form allows you to fill things out partially and return to edit it if needed. We understand that their future plans and details may change leading up to Senior Sunday, and we will update them as necessary. The deadline to fill out this form is May 4, 2026.
Note: We’d also like to recognize college graduates! You can use the same QR code to fill out your information.
Confirmands (Top-left to bottom-right. Star notes who was also baptized.): Molly Patton Gamble, Frances Odell Gardner*, Luke Mason Goembel*, Ryan
Paul Goembel*, Preston Harris Hines, II, Patrick Alexander Jackson, Evelyn Rose Mitchell*, Thomas Briggs Pass, Catherine Ann Stephenson*
UTH UPCOMING EVENTS
April 5 - Easter Sunday No UTH
April 12 NO UTH
April 19
Pre-Summer Parents Meeting - 4pm UTH - Menu is mac & cheese ($5)
April 26
Senior Handprint & Small Group Scatter
May 3
Youth Choir at Wesley Woods - 2pm UTHAPALOOZA - 6pm
As we enter the month of April, our hearts are still full from the beauty and depth of the Lenten season and the coming joy of Easter morning. Throughout these past weeks, our choirs have helped lead us in worship that invited reflection, repentance, and renewal. From the solemnity of this Holy Week to the triumphant celebration of the Resurrection, it is a gift to witness how music continues to proclaim the hope at the center of our faith. Easter reminds us that even in the quiet and waiting, God is at work bringing new life, and what a privilege it is to share that story in song. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
We are especially grateful for the leadership and presence of the Gathering Choir on Palm Sunday. Their o ering added a meaningful and vibrant dimension to our worship, helping to usher us into Holy Week with energy and intention. It is always a joy to collaborate across ensembles and with those who are not normally able to sing with us, and we give thanks for the time, preparation, and heart they shared with our congregation.
As April unfolds, we also begin turning our attention toward a full and exciting month of May. Preparations are well underway for Children’s Sunday on May 3rd, where our youngest musicians and worshipers will lead us, reminding us of the beauty of faith expressed through creativity and joy. At the same time, our Youth Choir is entering the final stages of preparation for their summer tour. Their dedication, both musically and spiritually, has been inspiring, and we look forward to seeing how they will share God’s love through music and service in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned for a description of their theme, destinations, and fun along the way in next month’s newsletter. Go ahead and start praying for our youth and this ministry. They will be traveling May 30th – June 4th, and will perform their tour program for you (in its entirety) at homecoming worship on June 7th. Save the date!
Thank you for your continued support of our music ministry. Your encouragement, presence, and prayers make this work possible. It is a blessing to journey through these seasons together, lifting our voices in worship and bearing witness to the hope we have in Christ.
Soli Deo Gloria, Caitie
Susan Mitchell Preschool Director
As we approach Easter, we begin teaching our youngest learners about the true meaning in a Christian setting. We focus on the story of Jesus, his love for us, and the significance of his resurrection. Through activities, storytelling, and chapel time, we help our students understand that Easter is not only a joyful celebration, but also a foundational part of our faith. It is a beautiful opportunity to nurture their spiritual growth while celebrating the hope and love that Easter represents.
We are especially looking forward to our upcoming summer enrichment programs, which promise to provide fun and engaging opportunities for our students to continue learning and growing even after the school year ends. We still have a few spots available if anyone is interested! Our summer enrichment camps are for ages 2-1st grade!
Next month we will have a petting zoo visit campus after a fun unit with Mrs. Betsy learning all about animals on the farm. This is always a favorite event with lots of smiles. Culver’s spirit night will help finish out our month on April 21st. Please visit and mention the preschool on that night from 5-9.
We are so grateful for the continued support of our church family. Your encouragement, prayers, and involvement mean so much to our preschool and help us create a loving, nurturing environment for our children. Thank you for being such an important part of all that we do!
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said - Matthew 28:6
He is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed! We have had a great March and I am so eager for April. And what a way to start it with the risen Savior. We will be having some fun and you will need to set the dates in your calendar.
Spring Break is coming up and ROOT345 will not be meeting April 5th, but we will be back next week. We are starting a series called “Living the Resurrection.” We will be answering questions about how the Resurrection changed everything, creating new life from our old lives, and being powered by the Holy Spirit and sharing God’s message. We will explore the fruits of the spirit and learn how we can represent those fruits well. We are going to learn how to leave bad habits behind and how we can grow closer to God when we do. We will also look at fears and how Jesus being alive can help us. Don’t miss the fun! 3rd grade to 5th grade will meet at 6pm on the Children’s Floor, and pick up is at 7:45pm at the covered awning parking side in the Annex Parking Lot.
Every Sunday morning from 9:45 am to 10:45 am we are learning about the books of the Bible and the stories that we cherish. The younger Sunday School class is 4 years old through 2nd grade and they are learning the stories in the Bible and get to experience the lessons those stories bring. The older Sunday School class has been having so much fun exploring the books of the Bible in order. These kiddos are learning the important lessons behind the books. Sunday School is taught by amazing volunteers that love the kids in our church well.
Children Worship is a fun experience for our 4 year olds to 2nd grades during the 11 am service. They get dismissed from the church service and go upstairs to praise and worship, learn scripture, and the lesson behind them. This time is a center style and they get to hear the scripture and then get to dive deeper with fun crafts and activities.
May 3rd will be a special Children’s Sunday that will center on the beauty of trusting God. Inspired by the words in Matthew 18:3, the children in our church will express what it means to believe, love, and follow God with open hearts. Don’t miss this Sunday as we hear messages of kindness, hope, forgiveness, and love.
June 22-25 is our annual VBS! If you have not signed up yet, do it now! We need children and volunteers! We also have childcare for volunteers with younger children. The theme is Snowball Mountain Challenge. We are going to spend the week finding our strength in God! Go online and sign up today.
In The Life of Our Church
In The Life of Our Church
UTH Biscuits & Bibles
7:00am | Truett’s Chick-fil-A
Women’s Bible Study
10:00am | Annex Hall
Bellissimo
4:30pm | Bell Room
Carol Choir
5:00pm | Choir Room
Cherub Choir
5:00pm | Main 202
Evening Prayer Service
5:05pm | Chapel
Wednesday Night Supper
5:30-6:30pm | Parish Hall
Women’s Bible Study
6:30pm | Annex Hall
Chancel Choir
6:45pm | Choir Room
UTH Sticky Faith
7:00pm | Mosley Home 2
ARC Blood Drive
11:00am-3:00pm | Parish Hall
Maundy Thursday Service
7:00pm | Sanctuary
April Calendar
O ce Closed
EASTER SUNDAY Sunrise Service
7:00am | First Avenue Park Worship
8:30am | Sanctuary Sunday School | 9:45am
| Sanctuary
11:00am | Sanctuary
6:00pm | Children’s Wing
4:30pm | Bell Room
Men’s Prayer Breakfast
8:30am | Gathering Room
Celebration Singers 9:30am | Weley Woods
Parkinson’s Support 2:30pm | Main 203 15
UTH Biscuits & Bibles
7:00am | Truett’s Chick-fil-A
Women’s Bible Study 10:00am | Annex Hall
Breaking Bread Noon | Gathering Room
Bellissimo 4:30pm | Bell Room
Carol Choir 5:00pm | Choir Room 15
Cherub Choir 5:00pm | Main 202
Evening Prayer Service 5:05pm | Chapel
Wednesday Night Supper 5:30-6:30pm | Parish Hall
Women’s Bible Study 6:30pm | Annex Hall
Chancel Choir 6:45pm | Choir Room
UTH Sticky Faith
7:00pm | Mosley Home 19 Worship
8:30am | Sanctuary
Sunday School | 9:45am Worship 11:00am | Sanctuary
UTH Parents Meeting 4:00pm | Youth Lounge
Youth Ensemble 4:30pm | Choir Room
Youth Choir 5:00pm | Choir Room
UTH Senior Handprint Night 6:00pm | Youth Lounge
ROOT345
6:00pm | Children’s Wing 20
Martha Circle 9:45am | Main 200
Inspirations 5:45pm | Choir Room
Finance Committee Meeting 6:00pm | Annex Hall
21
Preschool Spirit Night
5:00-9:00pm | Culver’s
22
UTH Biscuits & Bibles
7:00am | Truett’s Chick-fil-A
Women’s Bible Study
10:00am | Annex Hall
Breaking Bread
Noon | Gathering Room
Bellissimo
4:30pm | Bell Room
Carol Choir
5:00pm | Choir Room
Cherub Choir
5:00pm | Main 202
Evening Prayer Service
5:05pm | Chapel
Wednesday Night Supper
5:30-6:30pm | Parish Hall
Women’s Bible Study
6:30pm | Annex Hall
Chancel Choir
6:45pm | Choir Room
UTH Sticky Faith
7:00pm | Mosley Home
23
Fun ‘n Frolic Outing
10:45am | Trilith Studios
26 Worship
8:30am | Sanctuary
Sunday School | 9:45am Worship
11:00am | Sanctuary
April/May Calendar
26
Youth Ensemble
4:30pm | Choir Room
Youth Choir
5:00pm | Choir Room
UTH Small Group Scatter
6:00pm | TBD
ROOT345
6:00pm | Children’s Wing
28
Men’s Prayer Breakfast
8:30am | Gathering Room
29
UTH Biscuits & Bibles
7:00am | Truett’s Chick-fil-A
Women’s Bible Study 10:00am | Annex Hall
Breaking Bread
Noon | Gathering Room
Bellissimo 4:30pm | Bell Room
Carol Choir
5:00pm | Choir Room
Cherub Choir 5:00pm | Main 202
Evening Prayer Service
5:05pm | Chapel
Wednesday Night Supper
5:30-6:30pm | Parish Hall
Women’s Bible Study 6:30pm | Annex Hall
Chancel Choir 6:45pm | Choir Room
UTH Sticky Faith
7:00pm | Mosley Home
MAY 3
CHILDREN’S SUNDAY Worship
8:30am | Sanctuary
Sunday School | 9:45am Worship 11:00am | Sanctuary
Youth Choir Concert
3:00pm | Wesley Woods
UTHAPALOOZA 6:00pm | Camp Welcome
6
UTH Biscuits & Bibles
7:00am | Truett’s Chick-fil-A
Breaking Bread Noon | Gathering Room
Evening Prayer Service 5:05pm | Chapel
Wednesday Night Supper 5:30-6:30pm | Parish Hall
Women’s Bible Study 6:30pm | Annex Hall
Chancel Choir 6:45pm | Choir Room
10 Worship
8:30am | Sanctuary
Sunday School | 9:45am Worship 11:00am | Sanctuary
