Throughout this past year, our regathering and safety team has been directing our church’s plans. I have led this capable and committed team, including Nancy Harris, Cindy Stikeleather, Kyle Bell, Alison Fortner, Jill and Josh Rufty, Leigh Allen, and Sandy and Terry Galliher. We have been in regular communication and talked through Zoom meetings. We have remained informed about the circumstances of Covid in NC and in Iredell County through the NC Department of Health and Human Services at https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/dashboard.
Our most recent plan for online worship extended through February, and now that we are into March, the team is creating a new plan. We will be online only for worship this coming Sunday, March 7 due to a staff scheduling matter. We know that many of you are ready to return in person, and our goal is to return in person before Easter. We will let you know next week about those specific details for March and April.
SUNDAY WORSHIP: We will worship this coming Sunday, March 7 at 10:00 a.m. on www.facebook.com/MonticelloUMCStatesville. I invite you to join us for this season of Lent.
SPIRITUAL GIVING: We invite you to mail your offering or give online. You may mail a check to the church office at 308 Island Ford Road, Statesville, NC 28625 or give online at www.monticelloumc.org/online-giving.
MISSION OF THE MONTH: We will have the opportunity to shine the spotlight on Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County. You may learn more online at www.hoic.orgMonticello UMC is a partnering church with HOIC, which means that we commit to giving at least $500 each year in support of this organization. During March, we will have the opportunity for an update from Hospice, will learn more about their programs and expansion, and will offer an awareness/fundraising evening (in Covid-appropriate fashion) later in the month. If you would like to give for HOIC, you may do so at www.paypal.me/Monticello2002.
AVAILABLE IN CHURCH OFFICE: March Upper Room devotion booklets are now available. Please stop by the church office and pick one up, or let us know if you would like us to mail you a copy.
SERVE WITH IREDELL CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES: Thank you to Carol Berg, Bill and Margo Derry, and Dianne Kimball for serving with ICM last Thursday! We will let you know when the next service opportunity is scheduled.
ICM ITEM OF THE MONTH—BREAD: Our Monticello mission team has identified high need, low inventory items for Iredell Christian Ministries. Each month in 2021, we will highlight one of these much-needed items and invite you to donate. For March, we are asking for loaves of bread. You may bring donations of bread to the church office during daily office hours. (We will not keep the plastic bin out front and will place bread loaves in the church freezer until we deliver to ICM.) YOUTH PAY-IT-FORWARD: We have received several messages about how our Monticello youth are using or multiplying their pay-it-forward monies and will share those stories soon. If we haven’t heard from your youth yet, encourage them to share on the Monticello UMC website at this link. www.monticelloumc.org/monticello-youth---pay-it-forward
FAVORITE RECIPES REQUESTED: We have some exciting plans on the horizon for 2021 and are looking for your favorite recipes, especially recipes that you love to bring to share with the church for fellowship meals. Mail or email your recipes to Kallie in the church office.
SANCTUARY IN LENT—SUNDAY EVENING PRAYER: We will gather this coming Sunday, March 7 at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom for a brief time of centering prayer and reflection for Lent. Join either by phone, dialing 1-646-876-9923 and entering the meeting ID 6776882374 followed by # or online at this direct link. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6776882374 (New access for this week.)
WEDNESDAY ZOOM BIBLE STUDY: Our Wednesday night small group will meet tonight -Wednesday, March 3- at 6:30 p.m. to continue studying The Book of Acts. Call the church office for Zoom access information.
MONTICELLO PRESCHOOL OPEN ENROLLMENT: Our Monticello Preschool has opened enrollment for 2021-22 for two-, three-, and four-year-old children. Classes are filling up! Call Amy Gooden, Director, if you have questions or would like to register a preschooler. 704-924-8322
MILITARY CONNECTIONS: We are updating our information for military connections. If you have a family member or loved one in active service with the military, please email or call Kallie in the church office. Thank you! (monticello_methodist@yahoo.com or 704-924-8322)
Join us in prayer in the following ways: **Our neighbor and friend, Walter Moser, passed away this past Saturday at Iredell Memorial Hospital. We will share more details as they come available. **For Family of Sandra Douglas Campbell in their grief—Linda Bollinger **For Jerry Cooke—a friend of Crystal Lingerfelt **For Roger, Liz, and Kenneth—friends of Rita Bunton DiCataldo **For Steph Gardner’s dad who fell **For Vestie Surrett, Ed’s mother, who is in hospice care **For Grant Snook—who has had an extensive hospital stay due to an auto accident **For Isaac McCurdy—For Palmer Goforth **For Penny and Jim Dufour—ongoing health issues **For Bonnie Mayhew, who is having health problems **For Ruby Beatty, who has ongoing health issues
You may email or call the church office with prayer needs, reach out to our prayer group—Cindy Surrett or Teresa Saunders—or go online. www.monticelloumc.org/share-a-prayer-now. Please know that I continue to pray for you and send love and blessings. Stay well and take care.