ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week in Worship

New Sermon Series - "Holding On and Letting Go"

On Sunday, September 10, we begin a new series entitled “Holding On and Letting Go.” This is a bible study that Laurie Short wrote and is found on Right Now Media. Each week we will use as our introduction a six-minute video where Mrs. Short addresses two of the biggest challenges facing us right now: Holding on and Letting Go. Following this, I will preach on the scripture verse that goes with each video session.   

Our hope is to learn how we can hold on to God when we can’t see what He is doing, and let go when things aren’t going the way we’d like. I believe this series will provide a timely word for us this season.

Ready to become a member? Great news, we are ready for you!

Complete this form here and Joshua will be in touch with you!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Fall Youth Retreat

Friday, Sept 15 - Sunday, Sept 17

For this year’s youth Fall retreat we’ll be traveling to Cedar Crest retreat center to enjoy time with God, time with friends, a bonfire, ropes course and games! This retreat is open to all current 7th-12th graders and a late caravan may potentially be arranged for HHS students who will be attending Homecoming on Sept 15th.

There will be a required informational meeting for all attending youth and their parents on September 10 and 7 PM in the Youth Lounge. For questions or additional information, contact Randa Brown Gooud at randa.gooud@hfumc.org.

Fall Small Groups

Groups Start Week of Sept 10

Whether you are completely new to faith and groups or have been around this rodeo before, we’ve got the perfect group for you to connect with God and others. Short-term groups at HFUMC meet each Spring, Summer and Fall and are a wonderful opportunity to develop spiritual friendships while taking your next steps of faith in Jesus Christ. Click on the link below to see our current group offerings.

Church Conference Vote

The Church Conference (membership-wide vote) for Hendersonville First United Methodist Church’s professing members to vote on whether to disaffiliate from the United Methodist denomination will take place on Sunday, September 24, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. It is our hope that all church members will be there to cast their vote on this important day.  

A final Q&A session will be held on Sunday, September 17 at 2:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.



Voting Procedures

The Church Conference (membership-wide vote) for Hendersonville First United Methodist Church’s professing members to vote on whether to disaffiliate from the United Methodist denomination will take place on Sunday, September 24, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. It is our hope that all church members will be there to cast their vote on this important day. 

Credentialing will begin at 3:00 p.m. and voting will commence as soon as all in attendance are registered and seated in the gym. (Note: This is a change in the procedure that was originally communicated. Per updated guidelines from the Conference Office, all members must be present and vote together, there is no provision for absentee ballots. You must be present to vote.

You will enter the church from the atrium or carport doors and proceed to Genesis Hall. Childcare will be provided in the Children’s Wing for infants through PreK (first floor through the carport entrance). Please leave parking spaces nearest the carport entrance available for our members with mobility challenges.

Credentialing Process: We will have registration tables in Genesis Hall set up alphabetically by last name. Bring a photo ID to present to a church volunteer for verification. Youth without photo IDs can be verified by a parent. You will initial next to your name on the member list and will be provided an official ballot.

Once you receive your ballot you can be seated in the gym. Once all members are seated in the gym the District Superintendent, Jerry Wallace, will call the meeting to order, explain the process, and you will have the opportunity to vote. A sample ballot will be mailed to all members in advance of the vote so you can familiarize yourself with the wording.

Voting will be a simple marking of “yes” or “no” and you will sign your ballot. Yes is a vote to disaffiliate, no is a vote to stay affiliated with the United Methodist Denomination. Ushers will guide each row to the front to place votes in the ballot box. After all votes are submitted, we will pray together, and members will have the option to leave or stay until the votes are counted.

Two vote counters, who are not affiliated with our church and are not local residents, will count the votes and Jerry Wallace will certify the vote count and notify the church members of the result. Disaffiliation from the United Methodist Denomination may only be passed by a 66.7% or greater “Yes” vote of the ballots distributed at the Conference.

An email will be sent to all church members once the vote count is announced.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do I know if I am authorized to vote?

Professing members of HFUMC are authorized to vote. If you are uncertain of your status, please call or email Suzanne Newman, Church Secretary, at 615.824.8725, Suzanne.newman@hfumc.org, or stop by the church office where we have a full printed list of church members available for review. Suzanne will also be present on September 10 from 9:15-12 and September 17 during and after the Q & A session at 2 pm to verify status.

What do I bring the day of the vote?

Please bring your photo ID and a pen.

Have we provided the District Office with all forms required prior to the Church Conference?

Yes, the required forms were submitted prior to the deadline; including, Exhibit B of the Disaffiliation Agreement listing the church’s assets, along with a complete list of names and addresses of the members.

If we vote to disaffiliate, what is required to finalize the disaffiliation process?

●     Approval of the final Disaffiliation Agreement by the Trustees Committee.

●     A finalized Disaffiliation Agreement that would include a certification of the vote.

●     A quitclaim deed that, once fully executed by both parties, would transfer the real estate ownership to the church from the conference.

●     Approval by a District Conference vote on November 19, 2023.

●     Payment of an estimated $700,000 due November 30, 2023. (This money is currently held and available in an unrestricted reserve savings account.)

What are the next steps if we vote to disaffiliate?

Initially, nothing changes in our church’s day-to-day functioning. We would form a group to lead the church in a decision-making process about our long-term plan on whether to affiliate with another denomination.    

Please visit this link (https://hfumc.org/church-conference-vote) and scroll down to download the Church Comparisons for detailed comparisons of various denomination options.

What if I have additional questions?

If you have additional questions, please utilize one or more of the following resources:

1. Refer to the materials posted on the HFUMC website under the “Church Conference Vote” tile via this link: https://hfumc.org/church-conference-vote.
2. Attend the Church-wide Q&A session scheduled for Sunday, September 17^th at 2:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
3. Small groups and Sunday School classes can reach out to Tracey Silverman to request a Q&A session for their group.
4. Reach out directly to a member of the Church Conference Planning Team: Tracey Silverman, Ted Brown, Dennis Cavin, Charley Elliott, Mike Fussell, Kelley Hess, Don Hutchinson, Mary Cay Koen, Chris Renner, Trey Sandefur and Joshua Strader.

May God bless our church and guide each of us during this process.

In worship services on June 11th, Pastor Don and Pastor Joshua introduced a season of discernment at HFUMC as we approach a Church Conference on September 24th at 3pm. During this time, the pastors invited all HFUMC attenders to seek God's guidance by:

1.) Praying for HFUMC at 2:17pm daily

2.) (If able) Participating in a weekly "Wesley Fast" from Thursday evening to Friday evening

3.) To remember Wesley's first General Rule to "Do no harm" (Meaning that while we may not always agree on the important issues that need to be discussed and addressed; we do agree to show dignity and respect to each other in a way that doesn't demean or harm one's relationship to Christ and others).

Each Monday a brief prayer prompt will be emailed to help guide our prayers for the week. The following is the twelfth prayer guide for the week of August 28th-September 3rd.

“Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off."

~Acts 13:1-3 (NIV)~

By: Pastor Joshua Strader

As the gospel began to increasingly spread to the Gentiles, the first century church in Antioch had to make some important decisions. Who would go to continue to spread the word of Christ to the Gentile communities? Who would honor God by risking persecution, imprisonment or even death to continue the commission to make new disciples? Who would remain in Antioch to continue to strengthen the early Christian churches that were newly established there? Though there were discerning prophets and teachers among them (vs. 1), the entire congregation in Antioch entered into a period of prayer and fasting as they decided. The Holy Spirit honored their humility by helping elect Barnabas and Saul to carry out the important assignment.

Within the Old and New Testaments, there are numerous occasions when God's people deliberately added fasting to their routines of worship. Whether preparing for the reception of the law, purifying themselves for a special purpose or remembrance, embarking in battle, discerning God's will in a major decision, repenting of sin, or lifting the ill to God's healing--there have been many momentous occasions when fasting was an appropriate form of petitioning for God's aid.

Fasting is a very important spiritual discipline. It allows God's people to refrain from eating (or other activity) for a designated period in order to devote additional time and focus on prayer and seeking. The hunger that is felt during the fast reminds us of our need to hunger for God's presence. The void of food in our stomachs reminds us that we are dependent upon God's strength in our weakness. The self-discipline required to implement the fast helps us to develop spiritual virtues, patience, and a greater ability to focus on God rather than our needs and desires. As we approach our own major decisions as a Church this September, let us not forget the irreplaceable role that fasting can add as we continue to pray for God's will in our discernment.

This week, let's commit to praying...

• That HFUMC worshippers would continuously seek God's guidance within prayer, fasting and searching the scriptures.
• That our faith community would seek God in new ways as we acknowledge our dependence upon God in our decisions and actions.
• That God would grant us an increasing ability to focus on Him and His desires rather than on ourselves and our own pursuits.
• That the Holy Spirit would impart intent focus, patience, and listening in this important time of decision.
• That as we trust God's guidance and provision, we would find our hearts released from anxiety and infilled with joy and expectation for how our Father will respond.
• That in our prayers and seeking, we would be surprised and encouraged by a growing relationship with God that adds clarity, purpose, and fruitfulness.
• That the Holy Spirit would work through this time of decision to illuminate the considerations that are most important for us to remain faithful to Christ and His mission.
• That through our commitments to prayer and God's Word, God would renew our minds that we may test and approve His will (Romans 12:2).
• That the Holy Spirit would increasingly enable us to pray for the same things that reflect God's heart for HFUMC's future and mission.
• That as the HFUMC body engages in important conversations, we remember Wesley's first General Rule of "Doing no Harm."

O Lord, hear our prayers!

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you  and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26