You are cordially invited to a birthday party!
When: Pentecost Sunday, May 19th @ 9:30a.m.
Where: Lee-Scott Academy
Why: To Celebrate the CMCA’s Birthday

Are you confused by this invitation?

This Sunday we will celebrate a number of wonderful occasions in worship, one being the birth of the church and also the start of Christ Methodist Church of Auburn. Did you know that the feast of Pentecost is often referred to as the birthday of the Church? It is called that because Pentecost is when the apostles went out among the people and began spreading Jesus’ message, thus establishing the beginning of the Church.

Pentecost (Greek for 50th day) is celebrated by Christians 50 days after Easter and marks the day that the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles while they were cowering and hiding behind locked doors following Jesus’ resurrection. After receiving the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit, the apostles immediately went out and preached Jesus’ message to everyone—even those who spoke other languages.

The symbols of Pentecost are wind, fire, and a dove. The first symbol—wind—is taken from the noise the apostles heard as the Spirit descended upon them (Acts 2:2). After the wind, flames appeared and rested upon the heads of each of the apostles (Acts 2:3). Finally is the dove which serves as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. There is no mention of a dove in Acts, but we associate a dove with the Holy Spirit because of the story about Jesus’ baptism: “After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened [for him], and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon him” (Matthew 3:16).

Pentecost is one of the most important days on the Church calendar, but it is known to not be celebrated with the celebration and enthusiasm that the remembrance deserves. This Sunday in worship, I am encouraging everyone to wear red (or orange if your wardrobe is void of red) as a unifying symbol of the love of the Holy Spirit, holy enthusiasm for God’s powerful presence, or the tongues of fire that appeared over the heads of the apostles on Pentecost. Sunday is a reminder that we are never left alone in life, but God is faithful in His promise through Jesus that the Holy Spirit will make known the presence of Jesus, help us grow in Jesus' image, and empowers us to build up the Church.

I hope for all of you to be there on Sunday for worship, ready to experience God’s Spirit through Scripture (Acts 2:1-12), powerful music and the recognition of our graduating high school seniors. Following worship, we will have birthday cake available in the main lobby (between the gym and the cafetorium) for all to celebrate Pentecost while also marking an important 1st birthday in the life of Christ Methodist Church. May we continue to be found faithful to God as we worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly in our community and beyond.

In Christ,
Tony

We look forward to joyfully worshiping with you this Sunday at our 9:30 service! 

We will be celebrating Pentecost as well as the one year anniversary of our vibrant, growing church, and we will also be celebrating four of our high school seniors.

Pentecost marks the coming of the Holy Spirit and the official beginning of the Christian church. How fitting to celebrate our church's anniversary on this day! Please remember to WEAR RED OR ORANGE this Sunday for Pentecost!

We will have our first ever Senior Recognition this Sunday! We are recognizing four of our high seniors: John David Burns, Cate Herring, Megan Lowery, and Thomas Segrest. They will wear their caps and gowns, process in and recess out, and Brother Tony will have a special recognition time for them and pray a blessing over them. 

Brother Tony will be preaching a sermon entitled "We've Got Spirit, Yes We Do!"  based on Scripture from Acts 2:1-21.

The music on Sunday will be joyful and celebrative starting with the Voices in Bronze Handbell Choir ringing three pieces for the prelude to set the tone for our exciting service. 

In addition, the Chorale will sing the timeless "Awake the Trumpet's Lofty Sound" by G.F. Handel which also features David Chapman on trumpet. They will also sing a beautiful and meaningful anthem by Ken Medema entitled, "Come Build a Church." The text is so fitting for our congregation as we meet in temporary space which becomes our sanctuary each week:

"Come build a church with soul and spirit, Come build a church of flesh and bone. We need no tower rising skyward, no house of wood, or glass, or stone. Come build a church with human frailty. Come build a church of flesh and blood. Jesus shall be its sure foundation. It shall be built by the hand of God."

In addition, the Jubilant Song ensemble will sing an exciting a capella spiritual entitled "Fill-a Me Up With the Holy Spirit" by Pepper Chopin featuring Brad White, soloist. We look forward to celebrating with you on Sunday!

Please invite your friends to be a part of our Spirit-filled worship services. Come and be blessed! We look forward to celebrating with you on Sunday!

We are seeking a Spirit-filled, passionate, creative, and energetic leader who would build young disciples for Jesus Christ by developing and implementing a comprehensive approach to student ministry emphasizing small groups, worship, discipleship, mission, and outreach. The Director of Student Ministries will serve as a spiritual leader, mentor, and role model for students, between 7th and 12th grades, within the church and community. This is an exciting opportunity to build a relational discipleship-based student program from the ground up in a youth-oriented environment of Auburn, Alabama. For more information you can visit our website -(https://www.christmethodistauburn.org/pages/ministry-opportunities) or email Pastor Tony (tony@christmethodistauburn.com). 

Christ Methodist Church of Auburn desires to equip the next generation to worship God with all of their lives and to reach the world for Christ. We desire to build meaningful, spiritual, deep relationships with children and youth in order to model Christ to them in the various everyday aspects of life outside the church doors. Most importantly, we want the love of God to reach to the core of who they are and for that love to pour out into all areas of their lives. If you are a college student and feel God's calling upon your life, apply today for a summer internship and spend your summer changing lives and the world for Jesus!

Nursery (newborns – 2yo) – Room 430/Choir Room - Contacts/Teachers: Debbie Bagwell (dbagwell@charter.net) and Martha Dumas (marthadumas@yahoo.com). Volunteers teach and assist.

Hello, Wonderful Volunteers,

We are planning for summer fun! We are so blessed  to learn about our Lord and praise him through the eyes of children. All of you will make this possible. Thank you so much!

Christ Methodist’s Vacation Bible School will be July 15-18 from 9:00 to 12:00 at Greystone and Pebble Hill. There are lots of opportunities to serve in VBS. We are looking for:

Crew Leaders who will walk their assigned group to each of the rotations

Arrival/Pick up team to check in and check out our kids

Rotation Leaders (Bible Adventure, Kid Vid, Games, and Imagination Station)

Snack Makers

Planners

Decorators

Supply Shoppers and supply preppers

Site Preppers

and more!!

Our first planning meeting is May 29^th at 5:30 at Patti Robinson's house. The address is 1669 St. Andrews Lane. There will be snacks.

Our curriculum arrives this week entitled "SCUBA- Diving into Friendship with God." We are getting advertising and a registration link ready to send out soon.

Please let me know if you already saw a job you would like to be a part of or  plug in at our meeting. In the meantime, text or email questions or ideas you have.

If you think of someone else that would enjoy serving in VBS please send them my way.

Patti Robinson

770-241-6669 or pattiwrobinson@icloud.com

Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Calling all rising 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th graders for summer Acolyte Training! Acolytes are vital members to the worship team! Training sessions will be held at Greystone July 16, 17, and 18 from 2:00-3:30. After training on the 18th, new trainees and current acolytes will gather for a pool party from 4:00-6:00! If you are interested in becoming an acolyte, please contact Patti (770-241-6669 - pattiwrobinson@icloud.com )- or Sara (706-888-1015 - sara.i.doornbos@gsk.com ).

Let’s get our summer started right!

On Sunday, June 2nd, at 6:00 p.m.,  CMCA will host "Dinner & Devo".  Griffen Speaks, Auburn High Alum & Current AU Football player, will be our special guest speaker.

On Sunday, June 9th, at 6:00 p.m., CMCA will host "Dinner & Devo". Dylan Cardwell, Current AU Basketball player, will be our special guest speaker.

All youth from across our community are invited to be a part of these fun opportunities to hear from AU student-athletes about what it means to live a life of faith.

Dinner will be served, but we need to know you are coming so we can reserve you a plate. Text us TODAY (334-380-1279) to let us know you are coming. Include your name(s) in the text. Both events will be hosted at 1857 Stoneridge Drive in Auburn.

Please put these events on your calendars and spread the word! See you there!

Crossroads – Library – Contact: Laura Braswell (lkbraswell@gmail.com). An adult multigenerational class, studying various Biblical topics and their application to life. Members present book studies, Biblical theme studies, or videos for discussion. Crossroads is in the last two weeks of Dr. David Jeremiah’s "Slaying The Giants." Then they will be studying the Wesleyan Covenant.

Family Essentials – Back Locker Room - Contact: Abby Adams (abbyadamsdmd@gmail.com). A group of adults who are raising children and growing in our faith as a community. We study a variety of topics including first and foremost scripture, but also Methodist theology, family development, and Bible application books and studies. Currently they are studying "Cold-Case Christianity" by J. Warner Wallace. Taught by Debbie and David Smalley.

Fellowship – Auxiliary Gym – Contact/Teacher: Will Mooty (wsmooty@gmail.com). Middle age and older adults, couples, and singles, studying various Biblical topics and their application to life with discussion through book studies and video series. Currently they are studying the book of Genesis.

Open Door – Sixth Grade Hall – Contact: Patsy Cotney (patsycotney@gmail.com). Middle age and older adults, couples, and singles, studying various Biblical topics and their application to life. Taught by Jeff Harte and Kevin Phelps.

Open Hands – Main Gym – Contact/Teacher: Randy Woodham (rmwoodham@yahoo.com). Middle age and older adults, couples and singles, studying various Biblical topics and their application to life. In the Open Hands Sunday School Class, we are presently studying a book written by Max Lucado entitled "They Walked with God: 40 Bible Characters Who Inspire Us."

Sojourners – Room 441 – Contact: Judy Felkey (judy.felkey@gmail.com). The Sojourners Class is currently studying a Max Lucado book titled,  "Help Is Here: Finding Fresh Strength and Purpose in the Power of the Holy Spirit."  The class has two teachers who alternate months during the year, Philip Tyler and Bill Felkey.  The class is middle-aged and older adults, couples and singles, who enjoy a Scripture-based format taught in an interactive, discussion-based format.  New books are selected and proposed by the teachers with class suggestions and input as well. Our class tries to get together socially from time to time and our Sojourner ladies have been scheduling a monthly lunch get together for the last several months.  We are currently reviewing options to select our next topic for the class.

A Ladies Bible Study will begin on Tuesday morning, June 4, at 9:30, and will meet at Greystone. 

The Neighborhood Gatherings have begun!  These gatherings will be held every Monday and Wednesday night going through June. 

These gatherings are an effort to acquaint our new pastor, Dr. Tony McCullough, with all of us at Christ Methodist Church, and also for us to get to know him and his wife, Carmen. These gatherings will also be for us to learn more about our church and all that Brother Tony is envisioning for us. There will be around 30 -40 people at each gathering. Light refreshments will be served and each event will last about an hour and a half and typically begin at 6:30. 

Each host is compiling a list of people to attend a gathering they will be hosting on their specific date. We are trying our best to make sure that anyone and everyone who wants to attend a gathering gets notified of a date to attend one of these gatherings. Some of those hosts who are having gatherings later in May and June have not sent out their emails yet, so you will probably be getting notified soon. 

If you want to attend a gathering and you have not been notified, please contact Debbie Smalley at debbiens7654@gmail.com to let her know of your availability to attend one of these informative gatherings. We will make sure you get notification of a gathering date. Thank you!

Our church phone number (Greystone) is 334-209-0074.

Our “open” hours are 9:00 – 4:00 Monday through Thursday and 9:00 – noon on Fridays. We will transition the volunteer shifts for the greeters to 9:00 – noon and noon – 3:00 beginning in May.

THANK YOU to all that have been serving as GREYSTONE GREETERS! We are getting busier and that is a GOOD thing! If you would like to volunteer, please email or call Sherrie Stanyard (sherriestanyard@charter.net; 334-559-2229) and she will send you an invitation through SignUp Genius. This is a very important position as you are the face of our church!

Emails:

Dr. Tony McCullough - tony@christmethodistauburn.com

Gary Klarenbeek - gary@christmethodistauburn.com

Sherrie Stanyard - sherrie@christmethodistauburn.com

General email - info@christmethodistauburn.com

Please pray for these brothers and sisters in our family of believers:

• Keith Ryland - Reoccurrence of cancer. He has started chemotherapy treatments. 
• Patricia Gentry - Recovering from back surgery.
• Steven Register and family – He was recently diagnosed with colon and liver cancer.    This is a young family with 3 children. 
• Ron Patterson – Recovering from hip replacement surgery. 
• Sherry Tigney, Linda Tigney’s daughter - Recovering from major surgery.
• Hudson Early, 6 month old great grandson of Sandra Fisher – When tests were performed this week, the tumor from infantile cancer showed significant signs of shrinking. Doctors will review the test to help see what changes need to be made.  His family is extremely thankful and appreciate your prayers. 
• Christopher Wyatt, relative of Judith Gibson - Waiting for a liver transplant.
• Cecil Spears – Health concerns. He is at the rehabilitation center in Phenix City.
• Jerry Parker – Continuing to recover at home.
• Robin Kirkley – Surgery has been postponed and she will begin chemotherapy instead.
• Sherwood and Betty Thomas – Sherwood has health concerns and Betty has memory issues.
• Jim Carroll – Pray for healing.
• Rita Tuck – Pray for continued healing and recovery.
• Sherri Guenther – Eye Condition.
• Harry Gill – Breathing Difficulty.
• Chuck Dupree, friend of Beverly Webster and Sue Daniel – Recovering from back surgery.
• Tim Boosinger – Undergoing chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer.
• Dan Pope, Dannelle Fogal’s father – Pray for continued healing.  
• Matthew Hood – LSA junior who was severely injured in a car accident. Please continue to pray for rehab and recovery.    
• April Coulter – Colon cancer treatments. She recently received a good report.
• Max Bush, Craig and Lisa Leonard’s grandson – Please continue to pray for Max's health and development as well as his team of physicians.
• Stephanie Philpott, Gayla Sellers’ daughter – Stage 4 kidney disease, daily dialysis, medications. Please pray for comfort and peace.  
• Ray Porterfield, Nancy Flurry’s son – He is now proceeding to get on the transplant list at UAB.
• Alan Hampton, Rick Hampton’s brother – Undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma in Augusta, Georgia.
• Our deepest sympathy to Jake Hinson and his two young children, Blair and Will on the death of his wife and their mother, Ann Malone Hinson.
• Our deepest sympathy to Anne Murray Reardon, Alicia Conn's sister, on the death of her son, Jack Murray Reardon.

• The Congregational Care Team is adding another way for us to help serve the needs of our people. The Transportation Team will be a group of folks who can be called on to bring and take home those in our congregation who have no way to get to church services on Sunday mornings. If you would like to be a part of the Transportation Team please contact us.

In an effort to make volunteering easier for any area of ministry at Christ Methodist Church of Auburn, we are giving you the link below.

This is a centralized master link that allows you to sign up for a variety of areas at the push of one button.

Some of the examples of the areas you could volunteer are:

Sunday morning greeters, Sunday morning ushers, Hospitality, Greystone greeters, Nursery workers, Children's and Youth Sunday School leaders, Congregational Care needs, making Chrismons, Flower ministry,  and so many more. If you don't see an area listed that you were looking for, just know that on the central link it will be listed.

Another urgent area for volunteers is in our nursery.  We need workers for the birth to 3-year old nursery and preschool shifts from 9:00 to 10:45 and from 10:45 to 12:00. Volunteers can work all four hours or just one shift. If you haven't previously volunteered through a Sunday school class, please use the SignUp Genius to volunteer. You must have Ministry Safe training to work in this area. 

Also, you can access this SignUp Genius link by going to our website www.christmethodistauburn.com and looking under SERVE. 

Technology not your thing?  Email Sherry Roby at cjroby49@yahoo.com or Debbie Bagwell at dbagwell@charter.net  and we will help you get plugged in to serve.

The second batch of name tags has arrived! This Sunday, May 19, the ones that haven't yet been picked up will be placed in alphabetical order on the name tag table in the LSA lobby across from the coffee table. The third order has been placed and should arrive soon.

Another order is being prepared. If you’d like to get in on the next order, please fill out the form at the entrances to the gym at LSA, email sherrie@christmethodistauburn.com, call 334-559-2229, or stop by Greystone. Sherrie will also have a sign-up sheet with her Sunday at church. The cost is $15.00 per tag. Offering envelopes are available at the entrances to worship and at Greystone. Please designate "name tag" on the front if paying by cash, or “name tag” on the memo line of your check. Thank you!

To ensure the local church remains a place to allow for people to make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly, it is vital that the safety and protection of children, youth, and vulnerable adults be a top priority for every congregation within the Global Methodist Church and for Christ Methodist Church.

We have resources available to include a comprehensive safety system that incorporates awareness training, a library of videos and print resources, policies and procedures, and monitoring and oversight. 

Local church leaders and volunteers are trained to recognize and respond to signs of abuse and misconduct. With this knowledge, congregations can empower their members to be vigilant, prevent abuse by creating a culture of responsibility, and, when necessary, remove and hold abusers accountable for their actions. By implementing thorough background checks, churches can do all in their power to ensure that only individuals with a clean record and a heart for ministry are allowed to serve in positions working with children, youth, and vulnerable adults.

If you are interested in volunteering with children, youth or care ministry for homebound vulnerable adults contact Sherry Roby for more details on how to train and have a background check.  Cjroby49@yahoo.com

Sunday Schedule