*Sunday, March 3: Third Sunday of Lent

• Sermon: Rev. Dr. Fritz Ritsch
• Worship Leader/Scripture Reader: Bob Keck
• Flowers: Bettsee McPhail
• Head usher: Anna Peterson
• Nursery Workers: needed
• Pennies for Hunger collected

9:30am: New Member class held in the parlor

Tuesday, March 5: noon: Bible Study

Saturday, March 9: Set clocks an hour ahead tonight!

*Sunday, March 10: Fourth Sunday of Lent

• Girl Scout Sunday
• Sermon: Rev. Dr. Fritz Ritsch
• Worship Leader/Scripture Reader: Shevaun O'Connell
• Flowers: Mr. and Mrs. Gene Rees
• Head usher: Anna Peterson
• Nursery Workers: needed

9:30am: New Member class held in the parlor

12:15pm: Children's lunch and activities (see article below)

Tuesday, March 12: noon: Bible Study

Saturday, March 16: 8am-noon: Work day on grounds (see article below)

*Sunday, March 17: Fifth Sunday of Lent

• St. Patrick's Day
• Sermon: Rev. Dr. Fritz Ritsch
• Worship Leader/Scripture Reader: Derek Higgs
• Flowers: Bob and Kathy Moody
• Head usher: Anna Peterson
• Nursery Workers: needed

9:30am: New Member class held in the parlor

12:15pm Chili Cook Off and Transition Team Event (see article below)

Tuesday, March 19: noon: Bible Study

Saturday, March 23: (see articles below for details)

• 8am-noon: rain date for 3-16 work day and playground upgrade

*Sunday, March 24: Palm Sunday

• Sermon: Rev. Rev. Dr. Fritz Ritsch
• Worship Leader/Scripture Reader: Margaret Cockerell
• Head usher: Anna Peterson
• Nursery Workers: needed

12:15pm: Children's lunch and activities (see article below)

5pm: "Cross" Barn Quilt class- See article for details and to reserve seat(s)

Tuesday, March 26: noon: Bible Study

Thursday, March 28, 6pm: Maundy Thursday Service

Friday, March 29, 6pm: Tenebrae Service

Saturday, March 30, 3pm: 3pm: Easter Celebration including Egg Hunt

*Sunday, March 31: Easter Sunday: 10am Service

• Flowering of the Cross: Bring flowers
• Communion served
• Sermon: Rev. Dr. Fritz Ritsch
• Worship Leader/Scripture Reader: Peter Pequeno
• Flowers: Easter Lilies
• Head usher: Anna Peterson
• Nursery Workers: needed

Worship Volunteers Needed:

There are lots of ways to get involved during Sunday morning worship. We need scripture readers, flowers for the sanctuary, greeters, nursery helpers and Little Church helpers. There are sign-up sheets in the foyer, click the button below, or contact Anna at [email protected]

Note: We especially need help in the nursery. Per Safe Sanctuary rules, we must have two workers and one must be an adult.

Prayer List

Please keep the following people in your prayers: Elaine Canipe, Lori Bush, Kevin Dodd, Sheila Gifford, Larry Watson, McKenzie Brinegar, Ann Yokeley, Jordan Tucker, Bill Rountree, Jean Arrington, Kathryn Benfer, Wendy Byrd, Mariah Tate, Katherine Heath, Lauren Worley, Emma Caroline Howell, Tim Long, Kendra Eldridge

If you have a prayer request, contact Anna in the church office or email [email protected].

Pennies For Hunger: March 3

The first Sunday of the month we pass around yellow buckets for our Pennies for Hunger offering. You can also give to this fund through the Realm app.(click here) Just go to the giving tab and select the fund "HUNGER"

Our office manager, Anna Bush, will be out of the office this week, March 4-8. If you are in need of assistance, you can reach her by email at [email protected], or reach out to Fritz at [email protected].

Work Day: Sat., March 16

Saturday March 16th we are having a clean up day at the church which includes mulch spreading, weeding, trimming as well as inside cleaning projects. If you have tools to bring, please do. We are looking to start at 8am and go until about noon. Join us and help us get ready for Easter even if you can only make part of the workday. Rain date: March 23. For more information, contact Blanton Youell at [email protected].

Sun., March 17 at 12:15:

Chili Cook Off and Transition Team Event on Missions

Be sure to mark your calendars for this exciting luncheon. The women's fellowship will be hosting our annual chili cook off and raising money for new plastic tables in the fellowship hall as well as funds for Thanksgiving Meal Kits. No set fee, but donate what you are able. Sign up to help and/or bring chili or dessert by clicking the red button.

The Transition Team will be conducting our next event leading up to electing a Pastor Nominating Committee during the luncheon. The theme is "Our Church's Mission in Our Community." We will be welcoming representatives from charities we are currently involved with. We will also learn more about what we do as a church in our community and discuss what it means to do missions as a church. There will also be a survey going out for your input.

Create a Barn Quilt:

Sun., March 24

Kenzie Cabe from Cabeland Farm will be coming to help us paint this cross themed barn quilt starting at 5pm in the Fellowship Hall. The "quilt" will be 1'x1' and cost $25.The pattern will be drawn out for you on wood and you will get to choose whatever colors you would like to use! We are also working on finding a similar project that will cost less for the younger children. Be watching for updates!

We must know if you are coming by Thursday, March 14. Use the button below to RSVP and volunteer/donate to make event run smoothly.

March 24-31: Holy Week Services and Events

Sunday, 3/24, 11am: Palm Sunday service

• 5pm: Barn Quilt class

Thursday,3/28, 6pm: Maundy Thursday Service

Friday, 3/29, 6pm: Tenebrae Service

Saturday, 3/30, 3-5pm Easter Egg Hunt and Party in the fellowship hall

Sunday, 3/31, 10am: Easter Service

Work Day: Saturday, March 23

On Saturday, March 23 we will have a rain date for the work day scheduled for March 16, as well as a playground improvement day. More details on this will follow after the 16th.

Sat.: March 30: Easter Party: 3pm

The Beacons will be hosting our annual Easter party and egg hunt on Saturday, March 30, 3-5pm. Activities also include the story of Easter, crafts, and a snack. Be sure to bring your basket!

Needed: Loida and the Beacons need individually wrapped candy to place in eggs and plastic eggs to hide. There will be a basket in the foyer for your donations.

Godly Play and Faith Friends

Join us March 10 and March 24 AFTER worship service in the fellowship hall from approximately 12:15 until 1:45 pm.

Lunch is provided starting at 12:15, after which we will break up into smaller groups and do rotations of Bible lessons, dancing and music!

We will end at 1:45 and pickup will be either in the fellowship hall or outside on the playground (weather permitting).

Needed: Adult volunteers and lunch providers. Let Loida know how you can help.

Beacon News:

Youth in middle school and high school meet on Sundays from 5-7pm, in the Scout Hut for Bible study and fellowship. A light supper will be provided.

3/3: Regular meeting

3/10: Regular meeting

3/17: Regular meeting

3/24: 5pm: Churchwide "Cross" Barn Quilt (see article above for details and to reserve your spot. Cost: $25)

Sat., 3/30: 2pm: Help with Easter Party

3/31: No meeting. Enjoy Easter with your family.

Needed: Light meal for the Beacons. Sign up to help using the button below, or speak with Loida. Donations are also welcome, and someone will make arrangements to provide dinner.

Updates from the Session:

Financial Update: January was a good month financially for the church. Our total receipts came to $25,398, and our expenses totaled $12,483. We have received a total of $24,601 in pledges to date, which is 18% of our total pledge giving for the year. Please be sure to pick up your 2023 giving statements which are in envelopes on the counter in the hallway outside the sanctuary. 

Minutes from January's Stated meeting:

Next Meeting: Monday, March 18 @ 7pm

The Women's Fellowship is in full swing and has several projects underway. If you are not receiving emails, please let Beth Pequeno know.

3/17- Hosting the Chili Cook Off Lunch and Fundraiser

3/24 - Coordinating the Barn Quilt activity

Committees forming for:

• Chrismon repairs and additions
• Redesigning flower beds
• Cleaning and rearranging storage areas

Ongoing Projects:

• Fundraising for Thanksgiving Meal Kits
• Fundraising to replace heavy tables in the fellowship hall with plastic ones.

Chrismon Ornaments Project

Our Chrismons need some attention before Christmas. Peggy Rees is heading up a group of people who are interested in repairing and/or creating some new ornaments. There are two workshops coming up in Virginia where participants are shown how to make Chrismons out of beads. We also have a few people who do needlecrafts, including cross stitch, who have volunteered their talents. If you are interested in helping, contact Peggy at [email protected].

Support Our Area Charities 

Baskets are located inside the Blessings Box located in the foyer for donations to these agencies.

March's special requests are:

Yokefellow:  Peanut butter &crackers

Shepherd's House: 8oz water bottles

Helping Hands: Non-perishable food items, paper products and toiletries.

2024 Updates:

• 22 pounds of food delivered to Yokefellow
• 15 pounds of food delivered to Helping Hands

2023 Missions Ministry Team Summary

Substitutes Needed! Would you like to spend time with the sweetest kids on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday? We would love to have you!  First Steps needs substitute teachers! If interested, please contact Mary Alice Leonard [email protected] or Nicole Harrison [email protected] 

Congregational Care & Outreach

Deacon Kim Branch is providing congregational outreach by sending birthday, anniversary, and care cards to members and friends on our prayer list. Please contact her if you have someone in particular that you would like to have a card sent to on behalf of the church. Email [email protected] or call 336-401-0733. 

To Receive Realm Messages by Text:

Never miss a message on Realm! Text the word "START" (in all caps) to 910-469-4825 to Opt-In to receive text notifications when we post communications on Realm. You should already be getting emails and push notifications from the app whenever we post something, but this will also allow you to receive the message by text. 

Adult Sunday School:

Odds and Ends: This is our longest established class and it meets every Sunday at 10am in the classroom located at the end of the long hallway upstairs.

Lunchtime Bible Study

Every Tuesday, Dr Ritsch offers an hour long Bible study starting at noon.

We are currently studying the Gospel of Mark.

Bring a lunch if you’d like as we discuss what both scholarship and our hearts tell us as we study God’s word.

Kitchen Clean Up: We have a lot of items including serving plates that have been left in the kitchen over the past few months. Please take a look and take home anything that it yours.

Old fellowship hall tables: If you are interested in purchasing any of the old tables we are planning to replace with lighter ones, please let church office or Beth Pequeno know.

Changing Table: First Steps is in need of a diaper changing table. If you have one you would willing to donate, contact Mary Alice.

Free at-home COVID-19 tests

Every U.S. household is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests.

www.covid.gov

Find Local Services by Calling 2-1-1

NC 211 is a free, confidential, and multilingual health and human services information and referral system, available 24 hours a day in all 100 North Carolina counties. Managed by United Way of North Carolina and supported by many local United Ways across the state, NC 211 has continuously gained recognition as a trusted resource in the State and serves as a key member of the State Emergency Response Team.

North Carolinians can find help by dialing 2-1-1 (or 1-888-892-1162) or by visiting nc211.org.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

9-8-8 is the new three-digit dialing code to reach help for suicide and crisis help across the United States. Please help to spread the word about this very important topic, and encourage anyone you know who may need help to dial 9-8-8. Texting is also an option.

Session Members

Moderator: Dr. Rev. Frederick "Fritz" Ritsch

Clerk of the Session: Bob Keck

Elders:

Class of 2024:

Lydia Taylor, David Rives, Gene Rees and Steve Yokely and Anna Peterson (Youth Elder)

Class of 2025:

Kelley Jackson, Thomas Reisinger, Laura East and Jane Tesh

Class of 2026:

Carla Majure, Blanton Youell, Derek Higgs, and Bob Moody