—— News & Events ——

United Methodist News Feed

·Mixed blessings in new U.S. church numbers
·Could you go alcohol-free for Lent?
·John Wesley and black colleges
·Ethnic groups offer ideas for vital church
·Health-care chaplaincy - What's it good for?
·British cite importance of hospital chaplains
·Listening for the melody of God
·The Vow: A real love story of faith
·Meharry tackles health care from all angles
·NCC begins to consider its future

read more...

Children

Elementary Music Camp will be held from July 30 to August, 2012
Preschool Music Camp will be held from June 25 to June 28, 2012.
Vacation Bible School will be held from July 9 to July 13, 2012.
UPWARD Basketball Camp will be held August 6 to August 10, 2012.
All children ages 3 years – 5th grade are invited to join us on Sunday afternoons at 4:30 p.m. for choir. We learn new songs to sing for worship. We learn about music and movement. Our elementary choir is learning to play recorders! For more information, please contact Jane Shutt (704.889.2022) or jshutt@pinevilleumc.org.
A reminder: all children and youth on church property need to be supervised at all times. It's for their safety!

Christian Education

Join the Contemporary Class in Fellowship Building Room 4 (last room on the right) for a Lent study of Easter From the Back Side by J. Ellsworth Kalas. Kalas helps us look beyond the traditional Gospel scriptures to connect the story of Chris's resurrection with other stories and scriptures throughout the Bible. Each Sunday's study is a different lesson so don’t worry if you can only join for a few of the Sundays till Easter.

Lenten Studies - Beginning Sunday evening March 4 for three Sundays we will offer a church wide Lenten study for children, youth, and adults. Jesus often taught by asking questions, “Who do you say that I am?” Lent beckons us to ask questions of ourselves and of our communities of faith. Each night will focus on questions we should consider as we prepare ourselves during this Lenten season for the coming Easter. Our schedule for Sunday evenings will be 5:00-5:30pm-dinner together for all, 5:30-6:30 p.m.- Lenten study for children, youth, and adults. Beginning Tuesday March 6 for three consecutive Tuesdays we will offer a daytime Lenten opportunity for adults for study and reflection as well. Tuesdays will begin at 12:00 p.m. with light lunch, followed by Lenten Bible study.

NEW Women’s Bible Study: All women are invited to join us for a Bible study of the book of James by Beth Moore. Topics in this study include: joy, hardship, faith, reversal of fortunes for rich and poor, wisdom, gifts from above, single-mindedness, the dangers of the tongue, humility, and prayer. Two sessions will be offered: Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. beginning January 26 in Stacy Hall or Sundays at 5:30 p.m. beginning January 22 in CC6. Sign up today on Jane Shutt’s office door or by emailing her at jshutt@pinevilleumc.org.

The Seekers Class has just started a study of the Book of Mark based on the Serendipity Bible Study. We meet in room 109 at 10:00 a.m. Want to know more? Please contact Tom Stinson-Wesley at 704-889-2022 or tstinsonwesley@pinevilleumc.org.

Members

"Going green" is one time when it's OK to follow the crowd - did you know it costs the church $80 each week to print and mail the newsletter? Consider switching from the print to the electronic version and help Pineville UMC save money and the planet! Contact the church office to share your email address.
Let's start talking about Jesus! Check out the Holy Gossip! page to learn about this ministry!
Want information about an event or program posted on the Web site? Use this form to give us the details (follow the instructions on the form, or use it as a guideline to submit information by email)!

Ministries

Pineville UMC is exploring the possibility of being a Job Search Computer Site. The city of Charlotte is offering to install two computers at our church to be used for persons who are searching for jobs. The computers would be available Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 12 noon. We need volunteers to be trained (two half-days) to staff these computers and assist those who come in to use the computers. PUMC is a prime location for these computers, so please consider helping out. Call (704-889-2022) or email (churchoffice@pinevilleumc.org) the church office for more information.
Math Night at Pineville Elementary - PUMC has been invited to prepare and serve the meal for Pineville Elementary’s Math Night on Thursday, February 16 at 5:30 pm. If you are interested in helping out, please contact the church office, 704-889-2022 or Keith Geohagan, keithgeohagan@gmail.com
Pier51 Seafood Restaurant donates 10% of purchases to Pineville UMC when you write Pineville UMC on back of the restaurant copy of your bill.
The UPWARD game season: We have already had 5 weeks of UPWARD basketball and cheerleading and it’s going great! The children are learning so much about the sport and God! We need some help over the last few weeks: running the game clock, playing the music, cleaning up at the end of the day. Please consider volunteering for this ministry that is touching hundreds of lives each week! Call Mark Shutt at 704-542-6777.
English as a Second Language (ESL) Needs Your Help! We have an urgent need for an ESL teacher for Monday nights 6:00-8:00pm. Please consider helping out, even 2-3 nights a month until we finish up in May. You will be furnished with all materials, lesson plans and you DON’T need to speak another language. We have students from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Brazil, Puerto Rico, etc. and we use the universal language of laughter and love, and, oh yes, food! Right now we are having to combine beginner students with more advanced students and that does a disservice to each set of students. You will be blessed beyond your expectations and they will be as well. Call Laura Burba at 704-541-8352 if you can help us out.
Pineville UMC and Pineville Elementary School would like to work together to develop a community garden. We need someone to be the coordinator of the project and we need volunteers and participants. If possible, we would like to start the development this winter so it can be planted in the spring. Please contact Tom Stinson-Wesley, 704-889-2022 or tstinsonwesley@pinevilleumc.org for more information.
Children’s Ministry - Do you enjoy spending time with children, watching them laugh, sing and have a good time? We are in need of Children’s Church leaders for our 9:00am and 11:00am services. Typically, our volunteers work on a rotating schedule every other Sunday. However, we are flexible and would love to have you no matter how much or little time you have to offer. Please come chat with me about this opportunity to serve. Diana Ashley, Director of Children’s Ministry, 704-889-2022, dashley@pinevilleumc.org
Starting the process of being assigned a Stephen Minister is as easy as picking up the phone. Sometimes life overwhelms us and makes us feel alone. If you need to talk to someone who will caringly listen, please call. You may call the church, or ask someone close to call for you. Tom Stinson-Wesley will be happy to take your call at (704) 889-2022. You may also call Linda Rager (a Stephen Leader) at (803) 547-5041.
The Congregational Care Committee was formed at PUMC to nurture and be stewards to the whole church community. As our church continues to grow; so does the responsibility. Listed below are the sub-committees and their designated group or leader.
1. UMW - Prepares food for a family at the time of a funeral.
2. Jan Jankowski – Prepares food for a family with a special need.
3. Jan Jankowski/monthly volunteers – Sends cards to those on the prayer list.
4. Wyamon Price/Louise Hair – Administers blood pressure checks.
5. Linda Rager – Stephen Ministry.
6. Gilda Bass/Chip Eaker – Grief Support Group.
7. Roger Burba – Help provide transportation for medical appointments.
8. Run errands for those home bound.
9. Louise Hair – Deliver CDs of worship service to shut-ins.
10. Jan Jankowski - Make phone calls to members who need encouragement or affirmation.
11. Ida Mae Hopkins/Visitation Team - Visit the home bound.
12. UMM- Lend a hand with home repairs or yard work (large projects).
13. Jan Jankowski-Participate in the Prayer Chain.
14. Senior Pastor Tom Stinson-Wesley/Jan Jankowski – Be a Shepherd to a small group of people.
15. Jan Jankowski – Prayer group who will pray regularly for others.

sjjan@carolina.rr.com

Pineville Elementary Backpack Ministry - Thank you for the great support you have given to provide much needed weekend meals for children at Pineville Elementary. Our first 2 months have been very successful with both food items and volunteers to pack and deliver backpacks. Harrison UMC, South Charlotte, and Pineville UMC together, have been able to serve about 60-70 children per week. The coordinators at Harrison have asked if we could possibly increase the number of packs we fill a week, and I feel sure we can handle 15 at this point. I have heard from teachers and support staff that the families in need are many, and we are making a difference by providing meals as well as the knowledge that people care. I want to thank you, and to let you know that with Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks coming up, we plan to provide some extra meals for the time away from the free/reduced breakfasts and lunches they are able to get during regular school days. Please continue to pick-up items for the backpacks as you can, and know that it is an instrument in showing God's great love to a struggling family. The following are items that are suggested for the weekly backpacks: 100% juice boxes/pouches, mac & cheese (microwave cups), fruit cups, apple sauce, 6-pack cheese crackers, breakfast bars, pop tarts, oatmeal packets, individual cereal boxes, chef boyardee meal cans, shelf-stable milk pudding cups, individual cookie bags, individual dried fruit, raisons, beanie weenies, vienna sausages, ramen noodles. We cannot use any peanut butter products. You can also donate with a check to PUMC and mark for backpacks. For more information, contact Kelly Chiseck at 704-542-6627, or chiseckfamily@bellsouth.net.
The Love Offering for the month of February supports The Lucie Harrison Girls School in Pakistan. Checks may be made to Pineville UMC and marked for “Pakistani Scholarships.”
A group has been formed to study the feasibility of creating a Small Prayer Garden. So far it has been suggested that it might consist of a Finger Labyrinth on a pedestal with a bench. It would be located near the side entrance of the office area by the playground. A water feature could also be added. If you have any good ideas or want to help in any way, please contact the church office.

Music

This year's Easter Program will be a dramatic musical and will take place on Palm Sunday, April 1st, at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. We need volunteers! The choir will be singing the musical portion but we will also have speaking and non-speaking parts. We need help with costumes, lighting, sets, sound, props, behind the scenes coordination, set up, break down, and coordination of the rehearsal schedule. In order to get started right away, we need to know who can help by this Tuesday, February 14. We will begin practices soon after. All youth and adults are invited to participate. For more information, contact Stacy Hodes (704.341.8556).
Elementary Music Camp will be held from July 30 to August, 2012
Preschool Music Camp will be held from June 25 to June 28, 2012.
All children ages 3 years – 5th grade are invited to join us on Sunday afternoons at 4:30 p.m. for choir. We learn new songs to sing for worship. We learn about music and movement. Our elementary choir is learning to play recorders! For more information, please contact Jane Shutt (704.889.2022) or jshutt@pinevilleumc.org.
HELP WANTED: We need a drummer for the 9:00 a.m. worship service. Must be able to practice on Tuesday evenings and Sunday mornings. Please contact Jane Shutt. jshutt@pinevilleumc.org.
Are you looking for a way to be more involved in the church? Did you resolve to serve the Lord better this year? A fun, important way to do that is to join the choir. We meet on Wednesdays at 7:30pm in Stacy Hall. We sing beautiful music and have a lot of fun together. Contact Jane Shutt (704-889-2022) for more information.
The Pineville Ringers have rehearsals on Wednesdays, 6:30-7:20 p.m., in the Sanctuary. No prior experience is necessary.

Other

Want to get connected to the United Methodist Church? Visit the denomination's Social Networking Links page to connect on Twitter, Facebook or YouTube and to subscribe to RSS feeds.
Job Seekers of North Carolina need look no further for assistance! The Share Network Resource Directory is an exciting program that helps job-seekers find the right job. This valuable, user-friendly tool for JobLink Career Centers, non-profits and the public is a state-wide, web based directory consisting of various service providers.

United Methodist Men

The Methodist Men serve breakfast the first Sunday of every month from 8:30 until 9:30 a.m. Everyone is invited. We have eggs, grits, biscuits, toast, omelets, pancakes, French toast, bacon, sausage, sausage gravy, fruit, milk, orange juice, and coffee. It is a great fellowship time. Donations are accepted.

United Methodist Women

If you have asked for prayers for someone serving in the military, UMW needs an address for them also. The Military Bulletin Board is in the process of renovation. Soon there will be a small envelope containing labels that can be placed on correspondence or cards. Just place the label on your envelope and mail. Also if you have pictures you would like displayed or to add names to our military prayer list, please contact church office.
Thank you so very much for your ongoing support of the many fund raisers that enable United Methodist Women to give generously to various missions. Your donations to the Food Bank, Coupons for the Military, Urban Ministry, recycled eyeglasses and cell phones, soup labels, and various special collections provide the items needed to help make a better quality of life for those who receive them from these missions and ministries. You help make it happen and you do make a difference in the lives of many.
Call for UMW Gal Pals - Give the gift of friendship, affirmation and encouragement to a PUMC teenage girl during this school year. It’s an opportunity to share the love of Christ in a way she’s not likely to forget as she grows up. You don’t have to be an active UMW Circle member; and PUMC women of all ages are invited to take part in this
exciting ministry. Forms are located in the Connector, and in the Church office. For more information or to sign up contact church office.
It’s not just soup anymore! Save the complete label from any Campbell’s product. And now save Franco American, Market Day, Pepperidge Farm and Swanson labels too. Save lids from V8 or Prego jars. Find our new BRIGHT RED collection box in Stacy Hall on the donation table. Labels benefit programs at Bethlehem Center.
Coupon collection reminder: we continue to collect them for our military families! Please consider donating your unused, clipped coupons to this ministry. Clip them and place them in the container on the wall between Rooms 107 and 109.

United Methodist Youth

SKI TRIP!!! The youth will be going skiing at Winterplace in West Virginia Feb. 24-26th. There are limited spots available. Please contact Stephanie Jenkins at sjenkins@pinevilleumc.org if you are interested in attending or if you are interested in sponsoring a youth member to go on the trip.
This year's Easter Program will be a dramatic musical and will take place on Palm Sunday, April 1st, at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. We need volunteers! The choir will be singing the musical portion but we will also have speaking and non-speaking parts. We need help with costumes, lighting, sets, sound, props, behind the scenes coordination, set up, break down, and coordination of the rehearsal schedule. In order to get started right away, we need to know who can help by this Tuesday, February 14. We will begin practices soon after. All youth and adults are invited to participate. For more information, contact Stacy Hodes (704.341.8556).
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SUMMER MISSION TRIP!!! We are looking for both male and female adult leaders for this summer’s mission trip to Carolina Cross Connection. We will be going to CCC July 15-21. If you are interested, please contact Stephanie Jenkins at sjenkins@pinevilleumc.org. This is a very rewarding and fulfilling experience you don’t want to miss! For more information, check out CCC’s website at http://www.carolinacrossconnection.org/
A reminder: all children and youth on church property need to be supervised at all times. It's for their safety!

Worship

Ash Wednesday - Lent is a season of 40 days (not counting Sundays) which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends the day before Easter. Lent is a time of preparation for Easter. Ash Wednesday is on Wednesday, February 22. We will enjoy a meal together with our Room in the Inn neighbors at 6:15pm in the Crossroads Center. Then we will have a brief worship service beginning at 6:45pm in the Crossroads Center. The service will include the imposition of ashes as a sign of the call to repentance and reconciliation.
This year's Easter Program will be a dramatic musical and will take place on Palm Sunday, April 1st, at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. We need volunteers! The choir will be singing the musical portion but we will also have speaking and non-speaking parts. We need help with costumes, lighting, sets, sound, props, behind the scenes coordination, set up, break down, and coordination of the rehearsal schedule. In order to get started right away, we need to know who can help by this Tuesday, February 14. We will begin practices soon after. All youth and adults are invited to participate. For more information, contact Stacy Hodes (704.341.8556).
A flower calendar is posted on the main bulletin board just outside Stacy Hall. If you would like to donate flowers for the 11:00 worship service, we still have openings. The cost is $65 for 2 arrangements. You may give them in memory or in honor of someone. You may do this by signing up on the bulletin board or calling Janie Rea

jrea010440@att.net