Opportunities for learning, mission and worship

Announcements for THE WEEK of Aug. 31, 2025

SMALL GROUPS FOR ADULTS

Sunday School for Adults: Currently there are two options. The Wharton Sunday School class meets in room #115 on the first floor at 9:45am, taught by Howard Hendricks. The other option for adults is the Friends in Faith class, which meets in the conference room at 10am. All adults are welcome.

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES

More Volunteers are Needed to help accommodate the growth of our children and youth ministries. Key volunteer needs include:

Nursery helpers — We now have more young children, including infants, attending the 9 am service so need a second adult in the nursery during this time on Sunday mornings. Additional volunteers to serve at 11 am are also welcome.
Sunday School teachers for both elementary and middle school ages
Kingdom Kids leaders — Meets Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:45
Tweens leaders — Meets Sundays from 4 to 5:15, volunteers can choose to work with either 5th and 6th graders or 7th and 8th graders
Meal prep — Volunteers to make and serve meals for either Kingdom Kids or tweens

Many thanks for all the jewelry donations for the Residential Treatment Services fundraiser jewelry sale. Women Helping Women-Jewelry Benefit Sale will be held at Elon Community Church, Sept 16-19. Tues. evening, the 16th, will be Women's Night Out from 6-8pm where women will have the opportunity to be the first to shop and enjoy decadent desserts. Tickets for this event will be $10.00 per person with free admission all day Wed. thru Fri. Please come out to see what has been donated and to replenish your stock of baubles and beads. Last year over $20,000 was raised and all jewelry was arranged by color, season, gold, silver, pearls, etc. It is a fun time for jewelry lovers at great prices. (Yes, men can come too).

You’re Invited! Save the date of September 21st for our Jubilee Celebration service in honor of the many people who have contributed to paying off the building debt. We will have a special combined worship service at 10 a.m., followed by a potluck lunch downstairs. Please invite your friends and families to this exciting moment in the life of our church.

Thank you to everyone who came out and donated to our Afternoon of Song recital and reception. We raised over a thousand dollars and many donated food items for the Gibsonville Public Library food pantry. The performance recordings can be found here

College Sponsorships: It has been a tradition in our church for our members to sponsor a college student while they are away at college. We want them to know that even if they aren’t with us physically, we want them to experience God’s love, courtesy of GUMC. A member will select a college student who is away at college. The member will periodically send an encouraging text message, make phone calls, and occasionally send a care package. The term is usually for one academic year. We have four students who qualify for this program this year. Please see the August newsletter for more details. If you are interested in participating in this program, email Terry McNeill (mcneillwt@gmail.com) or call him at 336-263-7742. Thank you in advance for participating in this outreach activity to let our college students know that no matter where they are, our church has an engaging and loving congregation that cares about them.

Save the Date! There will be a Poverty Simulation led by our friends at the Hinton Rural Life Center on September 13th from 1 to 4 p.m. This is an interactive experience designed to help participants understand the challenges of living in poverty, especially in rural communities. For more information visit https://hintoncenter.org/resources-training/#poverty

There will be a meeting of Outreach Team Volunteers on September 15th at 7:00 pm in the Wharton classroom. This includes all those who have helped with outreach activities so far this year and all those interested in helping with activities for the remainder of the year. We will recap results of summer programs and plan for the rest of the year—including September community dinner, crockpot ministry, community Christmas party and other possibilities for serving our community. All are welcome.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH

Nurseries: The nursery is available at both services for babies - 5 years old.

Kingdom Kids: Starting Thursday, Aug. 28, Kingdom Kids will meet on Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:45 pm. Dinner will be provided each week for children and volunteers. Along with the time change will come a change in some of the activities we do, including the addition of a music lesson each month. This fall, we will be focusing on the parables of Jesus.

Children’s Sunday School: We will begin using the Sunday School curriculum “Two or More” on Sunday, Aug. 24. This curriculum provides children with Bible-rich experiences and grow in faith together. It is designed to be a one-room curriculum, bringing elementary-aged children together to be seen, known and loved. The elementary Sunday School class meets each Sunday morning on the second floor of the church.

Tween Youth Group: We will resume tweens on Sunday, Sept. 7, with some exciting changes, including dividing youth into two age groups (5th and 6th grade together and 7th and 8th grade together) for many of our activities. We will also be using a new curriculum for our faith-based discussions. There will be a meeting for all tween youth volunteers on Tuesday, Aug. 26 at 7.

Tween Sunday School: Starting Sunday, Aug. 24, we will be offering two separate tween Sunday School classes, one for 5th and 6th graders and one for 7th and 8th graders. The tween Sunday School classes currently meet only the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month.

High School Ministry (9th through 12th grade): We are exploring options for a fall weekend mission trip or retreat for our high school youth. We are also in early discussions with other local churches about doing collaborative events with their youth on a regular basis.

PRAYER REQUESTS