Yard Sale! Yard Sale! Yard Sale!

Just like everything else, the price of Passport has gone up this year! The children who are planning to attend from our church hope to defray some of the expense of this wonderful camp by hosting a yard sale in early May. 

As you do your spring cleaning over the next few weeks, look through your house to see what you could contribute to make the yard sale a success. You may bring your items to the Sunday School room beside the choir room, beginning Wednesday, April 10. If you need help transporting items, please let Cheryl Beck know and we can arrange to have items picked up at your home. The date of the yard sale will be announced soon. Thanking you in advance for your contributions!

Flowers for Sanctuary

If you would like to provide flowers in the sanctuary for Sunday morning services, please contact Gwen Messer at  828-506-8370, or Janice in the church office to be placed on the calendar.

Easter Escape Room Was Challenging and Fun!

Seven children and youth formed two teams to solve 4 mysteries of Easter in the Escape Room (Children's Sunday School room) on April 7. They were "locked" in at 9:00 a.m. with a tasty brunch and a little over an hour to decode puzzles related to Jesus' death and resurrection. They worked hard, arriving at the final challenge around 10:10 a.m. which allowed them to receive a key to unlock the Escape Room. 

Thank you to intern Kaitlyn Cabiness who introduced the participants to the Escape Room; James Wall, Rob Stokely, Brooke Dills, and Cheryl Beck, who were the "Puzzle Masters"; and Melanie Stokely who helped with the set up for the brunch.  

Completing the Escape Room challenges were Lucie Moore, Mattie Moore, Truman Joiner, Liam Nelson, Layla Stillwell, Lexi Allen, and Atalie Blythe.

Kaitlyn looks on while Atalie, Mattie, and Layla discuss strategies for unlocking one of the mysteries in the Escape Room.

Truman, Lucie, Mr. Rob, and Liam worked hard to solve the puzzle of why the people in power wanted Jesus killed.

Ladies' Bible Study

Please join us for the continuation of the Ladies Spring Bible Study on Monday, April 15, at 10:00 a.m. in the Gathering Room. We are studying the Book of Esther. This study has video sessions led by Beth Moore. Study books are available in the Church office but are not required to do the study.

Congregation-Wide Conversation Date Change

Our second congregation-wide conversation has been moved to Wednesday, May 1 to follow our regular first Wednesday Potluck family meal. Dr. Yelton will lead us in a group discussion that will provide information to the Pastor Search Committee team to use in calling a new pastor. Please make every effort to attend as your thoughts and input are so important to making this a successful process. Thank you!

Sunday School and Childcare is Available!

Babysitting Training to Be Held

The first session of the Babysitting Clinic was held on April 8 with five young ladies eager to learn to be good babysitters.  The participants explored some of their characteristics that will help them in child care, talked about responsibilities of babysitters, discussed the business of babysitting, and received important forms that are invaluable in working with families.  They also played a game, enjoyed a healthy snack, and decorated folders for storing their materials.  

Two more sessions are planned: Monday, April 15, and Tuesday, April 23, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., in the Children’s Sunday School room. For more information, contact Cheryl Beck at 828-421-3820.

Hurray for Our Nursery Workers of the Week!

Thank you, Melanie and Rob Stokely, for taking care of the little ones in the nursery on Sunday.
They enjoyed having you with them. 

Also, thank you to Melanie who kept the nursery until Sunday School was over. That was a big help, Melanie!

On April 14 Vanessa Bryson and David McDonald will be in charge of the nursery. 
Thank you for your willingness to serve!

There is still room on the schedule to serve “the least of these”
on Sunday mornings.  It is a blessing to see their smiles and enthusiasm as you spend
time with our infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. 
Please contact Cheryl Beck (cabeck@ncsu.edu) if you would like to help.

Joe's Window

By Dr. Joe Yelton
Interim Pastor

It’s difficult imagining what it must have been like living in an age prior to the advent of the automobile. Today, cars are so numerous that taking a stroll to the mailbox can be hazardous. It wasn’t so terribly long ago that every place you wanted to go, you walked, unless you were fortunate and wealthy enough to have a horse. Every trip had to be calculated. 

What about life before the Internet? It seems that the World Wide Web has been with us forever. Not so! I remember easily the early 1990’s when Vice President Gore, on nationwide television, introduced us to the idea of being able to instantly connect with information and individuals across the globe, from the safety of your own living room. It was science-fiction then, yet today, the Internet is a tool for billions. 

Now, imagine the world 2,000 years ago when our Lord’s resurrection was a brand-new experience. Word traveled slowly ... (most walked) ... there was no instant-messaging. But the word traveled. The Word still travels. And most effectively, it travels one person to another. 

So, in this Season of Eastertide, I leave you with a simple thought: the only explanation that makes sense for the success of the Christian message is, the believers REALLY believed in it’s place and prominence. Do we? If so, that belief changes everything. Everything!

Giving the Jesus Way

United Christian Ministries is in need of  pasta sauce, Ramen, pancake syrup, applesauce (6-pack individual cups), and laundry detergent. To donate items, please drop them off at UCM’s building at 191 Skyland Drive. Thank you!