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PFAFFTOWN CHRISTIAN CHURCH

(DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)

3323 Transou Rd.

Pfafftown, NC 27040

Phone: 336-924-9925

Email: office@pfafftownchristian.org

Website: www.pfafftownchristian.org

Nonprofit Org

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Pfafftown NC

Permit #2

We Answered

“What’s Next?”

On Sunday, April 8, the Adult Connect

Group had a fun and productive meeting to

plan for our next year of study and sharing

together. We discussed the value of the

gathering for our group and the life of our

church. Challenges facing the Connect

Group ministry were also shared. This was

followed by a spirited “brain storming”

session, establishing some topics of interest

for the coming year. Thank you to all who

participated, helping to make better this time

of gathering.

So...“What’s Now?” Is God Calling? Written by Dr. Bo Prosser Sundays, 9:45 a.m.,

Downstairs Fellowship Hall

The following Bible studies bear witness to

the reality of God’s call. Sarah thought

God’s call to motherhood was impossible.

Samuel was confused by the whispered call

of God. Elijah’s call was affirmed and vali-

dated in many ways. Matthew was clearly

called by Jesus even though the religious

leaders disagreed. Paul’s call drastically

changed his life and the face of Christianity.

These are exciting stories of call and

response. Yet, these are no more exciting or

dramatic or important than your call. In

studying these call experiences, perhaps you

can clarify your call experiences. Witness

the varying forms of God’s call, the variety

of people called, and the variety of

responses. Perhaps God’s call to you will

become clearer. Hopefully, God’s call will

become definitive for your life. As you

study, pay attention…God is calling, and the

call is for you!

Connect Group

Bible Passages Dates and Topics

April 29 - GOD CALLS SARAH,

Genesis 17:15-19; 18:9-15; 21:1-8

May 6 - GOD CALLS SAMUEL,

1Samuel 3:1-10

May 13 - GOD CALLS ELIJAH,

1Kings 18:30-40

May 20 - A PAUSE FOR PENTECOST:

The Spirit’s Call, Acts 2

May 27 - GOD CALLS MATTHEW,

Matthew 9:9-13

June 3 - GOD CALLS PAUL,

Acts 9:1-22

_____________

Remember to turn in your

Estimate of Giving Card

By Sunday, May 27, 2018

Church Staff

Rev. Gerald Thomas, Pastor

Rev. Tim Shoaf,

Minister of Music & Programs

Jane K. Hoover, Office Administrator

Inside the Visitor

Page 1: Connect Groups

Connect Group Schedule

Memorial Day Lawn Party

Page 2: As Way Leads to Way

Family Matters

Crisis Control Food

Driver Schedule for May

Page 3: GoodTimers

Wise Words

Six Undeniable Facts

Notes from Tim

Page 4: The Gathering

CWF

PCC Yard Sale

Garden News

Welcome Baby

New Addresses

Page 5: Mother’s Day

Page 6: Financial Report

Stewardship

Page 7: Hold In Your Prayers

Servers, May 2018

Memorial Day Quotes

Insert: May Calendar

Volume 1 Number 12

May 2018

TH

E V

ISITO

R

Memorial Day Lawn Party and

Program of Remembrance

Join your church family and friends on

Sunday afternoon, May 27th

as we commemorate Memorial Day!

Beginning at 5:00 pm we will enjoy patriotic

games, music and activities for all ages!

A picnic supper cooked by the CMF Grill Ser-

geants, will include hot dogs and hamburgers

hot off the grill with all the trimmings!

Scrumptious desserts will be served as we sit

on the back lawn watching the children play-

ing on the playground.

A program of music and the spoken word will

follow the meal in the sanctuary as a trib-

ute to those men and

women who so bravely gave their lives

and paid the ultimate sacrifice for the free-

doms and privileges we have as proud Ameri-

cans.

Mark your calendars and invite your

friends, neighbors and relatives to come and

enjoy this community-wide event that com-

memorates Memorial Day.

Pfafftown Christian Church’s gift

to the community.

7 2

Family Matters:

Lessons In Loving

Ourselves and One An-

other

August 10-12

Doctor Hunter Hay is joining us this summer to help us

understand healthiness in our relationships. Single or

married. Parents or children. Grandparents, aunts, uncles,

cousins. Even relationships within our church “families.”

Everyone in our community will benefit from this time of

sharing and listening.

One cannot over emphasize the importance of these

lessons in our lives. Please make this investment in your

personal and family life. All sessions are free. A nursery is

provided.

We will gather for sessions on Friday evening, Saturday

morning and Sunday morning. Dr. Hay will also preach in

Sunday morning worship _________________

Share the Food, Share the Good

News!

Thank you for your faithfulness to the needs of

our community through the Crisis Control food

pantry. This month, the pantry most needs cans of greens.

We did not receive so many in April. Please place your

items in the box outside the Downstairs Fellowship Hall. If

you have questions, please contact Jackie Romanello.

Thank you!

__________

Sunday Schedule for Anna Wilson

May 13 - Mother’s Day, No Ride Needed

May 27 - Betty Simpson

Hold in Your Prayers

Rose Tara: Vallie Cline

Davis Medical Center: Connie Snuffer

Brighton Gardens: Edna Williamson, Martha Williamson

Hospice: Erleen Rhein

Recovering: Pat Barber, Betty Clodfelter,

Hailey Burns, Wade Tuttle: Jill Robertson’s uncle.

Church Family: Bud Barker, Mary Ferguson, Edith

Sprinkle

Others:

Martha Blevins: Marlene Thomas’ family;

Steve Calaway

Jennifer Durham: Irma &d Fred Muetzel’s granddaugter

Geraldine Edwards: Ann Fletcher’s aunt

Norma Goslen; Evelyn Nifong;s sister-in-law

Elfi Haddock: Sharon Binkley’s sister-in-law

Beth Haddock: Sharon Binkley’s mother

Bobby Johnson: Helen Johnson’s son

Cayden Kingsbury: Rodney Stilwell’s grandson

Chuck Kolstad: Evelyn Nifong’s son-in-law

Lacy Mabe: Scott, Jill & Emma Robertson’s uncle

Taylor Manion: Julie and Andy’s Son

Sue Miles: Jo Stanley’s friend; Louise Davis Moore

Angela Joy Neal, Gennie Romanello Sinclair

Mikki Purcell Thomas: Gerald Thomas’ cousin

Judy Sledd: Sue Terry’s cousin

Darlene Stewart: Ann Fletcher’s sister

Joy Stokes: Jill Robertson’s sister,

Emory and Ella Thomas: Gerald Thomas’ parents

Teresa Tyndale: Edith Sprinkle’s friend

Jon Vickers: Jo & Skip Stanley’s friend.

Judy West: Ann Fletcher’s cousin

Loved Ones in the Military:

Sgt. Samantha Goliat, OH, PRAN;

Joshua Hughes, Norfolk, VA;

Chase Lee, Guam; USS Key West;

Cpt. Hope Poster, NG, Texas;

Cpt. John G. Van Hoy IV, Fort Campbell, KY

As Way Leads on to Way

In the wake of a flood in South Georgia, many

people were left with a little more than a shell of a

home and a handful of soggy possessions. One such

man, stacking the debris of his life on the front

lawn, emerged to find a duck walking across his

grass. The duck was happy enough plenty of water

as far as the eye could see. With jolly pluck, the

duck waddled across the swampy yard and up on

the man’s pile of ruined lumber and belongings.

Seeing the duck there, the man picked up a piece of

lumber and waylaid him. Why? For the simple

fact the duck was walking on his debris.

Those observing understood. Their neighbor

had reached the breaking point. Everything gone.

No flood insurance. No way to replace some of the

possessions. And worse, no one to blame. Yes,

one could scream out in the face of God, but God

was not a visible target. But this duck. This duck

was another story. Floating in with the flood wa-

ters. Visible. Tangible. Standing like he had a

right on the debris of this man’s life.

None of this makes duck-bashing justifiable,

simply understandable. We all stand on someone’s

debris from time to time. Their marriage falling

apart while ours is stable. Their kids raising cane

while ours just made honor roll. Their jobs lost and

we receive a promotion. We sit by the fire, they

shiver in the street. An issue of joy for us is some-

times an issue of sorrow for others, meaning those

others may occasionally strike out at us. No, it is

not right, but it is understandable.

Understandable because sometimes we are the

duck, at other times the reason those around us

duck. – GT

————————

Pastor on Holiday Our pastor will be away, May 21 through June 4

If you have an emergency or pastoral care need,

please do not hesitate to call Tim or your family’s

Elder.

SERVERS for MAY 2018

ELDERS: Ken Davis, Pat Millsaps

DEACONS : Jill Robertson, Susan Smith

Paul Shropshire, Jr. Deacon: Emma Robertson

COMMUNION: Worship Committee

OPEN/CLOSE: Richard Yarbrough

Thank you for your part in ministry at PCC !

_____________

“The patriots blood is the seed of Freedom’s Tree”

— Thomas Campbell

“They hover as a cloud of witnesses above this

Nation.” — Henry Ward Beecher

“And I’m proud to be an American where at least I

know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died

and give that right to me.”

— Lee Greenwood

“How important it is for us to recognize and

celebrate our heroes and she-roes!”

— Maya Angelo

GoodTimers Monday, May 14, 2018

11:30 am — Mystery Program

You are invited to the Downstairs

Fellowship Hall to enjoy a meal prepared

for us by Evelyn Nifong (She is treating us!)

Followed by an amazing, interactive mystery skills

program that will test your knowledge of….opps, can’t

give that away. Curious? Come to GoodTimers to solve

the mystery.

___________________

Wise Words, for Wise Ones As we grow older, and hence wiser, we slowly realize that:

— Whether we wear a $300 or $30 watch - - they both tell

the same time.

— Whether we carry a $300 or $30 wallet/handbag - - the

amount of money inside is the same.

— Whether we drink a bottle of $300 or $30 or $3 wine - -the

hangover is the same. Whether the house we live in

is 300 or 3,000 or 30,000 sq. ft. - - the loneliness is the same.

— And we realize our true inner happiness does not come

from the material things of this world.

— Whether we fly first or economy class, if the plane goes

down - - we go down with it. Whether we fly first or

economy class, if the plane reaches its destination - - everyone

arrives at the same time.

— Therefore . . . we should realize that when we have mates,

buddies and old friends, brothers and sisters, with whom we

can chat, laugh, talk, sing, talk about north-south-east-west or

heaven and earth -- that is true happiness!

________________

Six Undeniable Facts of Life –

1. Don't educate your children to be rich. Educate them

to be happy, so when they grow up they will know the

value of things, not the price.

2. Best wise words: "Eat your food as your medicines.

otherwise you have to eat medicines as your food."

3. The one who loves you will never leave you because, even

if there are 100 reasons to give up, he or she will find

one reason to hold on.

4. There is a big difference between a human being and being

human. Only a few folks really understand that.

5. You are loved when you are born. You will be loved when

you die. In between, you have to manage!

6. If you just want to walk fast, walk alone; but, if you

want to walk far, walk together! (From Skip Stanley)

Notes from Tim

So often in our church life, we Protestants sometimes do

not consider the church holy days and church seasons as

the vital part of our lives that they are. They serve to

remind us to worship in a particular way while

enhancing such things as our prayer lives and our

discipline, all designed to bring us closer to, and develop

a close personal relationship with, Jesus Christ. We are

all well aware of Christmas and Easter, but there are

other days and seasons that also have great meaning such

as Pentecost.

Pentecost is a celebration day derived from our Jewish

roots, found in the Old Testament as the festival of

weeks. This tradition was upheld by New Testament

Christians who were celebrating the Jewish festival when

God sent the Holy Spirit upon them. The Holy Spirit is

characterized as fire in Acts 2:3, which is that part of

God who energizes us and gives us that ability to live life

in the “here and now.”

We are a Church, a People, born of the wind and fire of

God. The image of wind says that we are the people of

God in action, moving things around a bit. Wind by

definition cannot be still. Still air is not wind! And the

fire (red flame) of Pentecost says that the Church has the

power, heat and light of God! The Church of Jesus Christ

is empowered by the Holy Spirit to be God's agents,

God's witnesses in the world.

The Church is to be an energetic, dynamic, and vibrant

community of faith. It is the Body of Christ in and for

the world! So, please take a moment in the coming

weeks to read the second chapter of Acts and come to

worship on Sunday May 20, as we celebrate Pentecost

Sunday—the day the Spirit of God came upon the first

disciples and the church was born!

Since “red” is the liturgical color symbolic of Pentecost

and represents the flame of the living Christ in our

hearts, wear something "red" on Pentecost Sunday to

represent the Holy Spirit among us!

God be with you! Tim

Page 6

Page 3

_______________________

Page 6

Page 3

STEWARDSHIP SEASON IS HERE!

By now we hope you have received your letter containing the Estimate of Giving Card, which is, as I have

said before, “the backbone” of our Stewardship Campaign each year. You should have by now received a

card. If not, please pick one up in the Narthex along with a return envelope, and mail it, put it in the collection

plate, give it to me or Betty Kiger…or if you would like, call me and give me your number(s) over the phone.

It is your estimate and one we use to make an aggregate estimate of the inflow of funds to the church to fund

annual budget. You will make our stewardship program much more reliable in carrying out and paying for the

expenses of the church, if you will give us your best “guesstimate” of your giving over the fiscal year from

July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019.

The Deadline for providing your estimate is Sunday, May 27th, 2018.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Bill Simpson

Page 5

(Gerald reminded me to remember

Mother’s Day in this newsletter. I

am so glad he did! I discovered that

Memorial Day and the celebration

of Mother’s day are connected. I

also came across an article entitled

Spiritual Motherhood Every Wom-

an’s Calling by Alice von Hilde-

brand. It is on the website www.plough.com. It is a wonderful

salute to all women on this day when we celebrate those women

who have “raised” us. Blessings to all women this Mother’s Day

and all year. Jane)

The Original Mother’s Day Proclamation

While countries around the world celebrate their own

Mother’s Day at different times throughout the year,

several countries, including the United States, Italy,

Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, and Turkey

celebrate it on the second Sunday of May.

In the United States, the origins of the official holiday

go back to 1870, when Julia Ward Howe, an abolition-

ist, best remembered as the poet who wrote “Battle

Hymn of the Republic” worked to establish a Mother’s

Peace Day. Howe dedicated the celebration to the

eradication of war, and organized festivities in Boston

for years.

In 1907, Anna Jarvis, of Philadelphia, began the

campaign to have Mother’s Day officially recognized,

and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson did this,

proclaiming it a national holiday and a “public

expression of our love and reverence for all mothers.”

Today’s commercialized celebration of candy, flowers,

gift certificates, and lavish meals at restaurants bears

little resemblance to Howe’s original idea. There is

nothing wrong with that. But here, for the record’s

sake, is the proclamation she wrote in 1870, which

explains, in her own impassioned words, the goals of

the original holiday.

________________________

Julia Ward Howe

1819—1910

Author of:

The Battle Hymn of the

Republic

and

The Mothers Day

Proclamation

(Article and picture courtesy of the

website www.plough.com)

1870 Mothers Day Proclamation

Julia Ward Howe

Arise, all women who have hearts, whether your

baptism be that of water or of tears! Say firmly:

“We will not have great questions decided by

irrelevant agencies, our husbands shall not come to

us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause.

“Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all

that we have been able to teach them of charity,

mercy and patience. We women of one country will

be too tender of those of another country to allow

our sons to be trained to injure theirs.”

From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice

goes up with our own. It says, “Disarm, disarm! The

sword is not the balance of justice.” Blood does not

wipe out dishonor nor violence indicate possession.

As men have often forsaken the plow and the anvil

at the summons of war, let women now leave all

that may be left of home for a great and earnest day

of counsel. Let them meet first, as women, to bewail

and commemorate the dead. Let them then solemnly

take counsel with each other as to the means where-

by the great human family can live in peace, each

learning after his own time, the sacred impress, not

of Caesar, but of God.

In the name of womanhood and of humanity, I

earnestly ask that a general congress of women

without limit of nationality may be appointed and

held at some place deemed most convenient and at

the earliest period consistent with its objects, to

promote the alliance of the different nationalities,

the amicable settlement of international questions,

the great and general interests of peace.

___________________

______________________

CHURCH GARDEN NEWS:

All of the private garden plots are spoken for but if

you would like to have one, I think Cliff Hunt might

share his with you…so its not too late!

As of now, I project a tilling and corn planting sched-

ule of May 23-26, but of course the exact dates will de-

pend on the weather and how many folks will help in

planting. If we have 8 or more, we should be equipped to

plant all of it in one afternoon. Please sign up on the

sheet in the Narthex if you will join in our fun work for

those in need.

Thanks, Bill Simpson

_____________

It’s a Girl!

Eleanor Belle Johnson

7lbs. 1 oz. — 20” long

Born: 8:00 a.m.

April 20, 2018 to

Mikki Johnson

Proud grandparents: Steve and Cheryl Johnson

Proud great-grandmother: Pat Millsap

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine

upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance

upon you and give you peace.” — Numbers 6:24-26

____________________

Change of Address

Alan and Debbie Fletcher

550 Conrad Road

Lewisville, NC 27023

Phone: 336-945-0236

Jordan and Lauren Myers

605 West Market Street

Greensboro, NC 27401

Page 4

The Gathering

May 9, 2018

Menu: Turketti, Tossed Salad,

Cranberry Salad, Creamed Corn

Bread and Brownies

Sign up in the Narthex

CWF Meeting May 15, 2018

6:30 pm

Downstairs Fellowship Hall

Agenda: Food, Fellowship, Fun and Business

PCC Yard Sale Friday, May 18 & Saturday May 19, 2018

8:00 am to 2:00 pm in the Picnic Shelter

Yard Sale items can be dropped off at the Pavilion

or left in front of the yard sale storage (room 104)

If you need a pick-up, please call 336-986-5106 or

336-775-8965.

Your donations are greatly appreciated to make our

sale successful.

Please mark your calendar and come to help, donate

or shop.

Thank You

Tommy Timmons and Kitty Hunt

Welcome Baby

Eleanor Belle

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 7:00 pm Daisy Troop

2 7:00 pm

Chancel Choir

3 4 5 Crisis Control

All types of

Canned

6 9:45 am

Connect Groups

11:00 am

Worship

7 7:00 pm

Handbells/

Scouts

8 7:00 pm

Elders

9 6:00 pm

The Gathering

10 11 GS Troop

6pm

Eagle Scout

Ceremony

Noon

12 Lock in UFH

to 10 am

DFH & Sanctuary

reserved

6:00 pm

13 Mother’s Day 9:45 am

Connect Groups

11:00 am

14 11:30 am

GoodTimers

DFH

7:00 pm

Handbells/

Scouts

15 6:30 pm

CWF—DFH

7:00 pm

Brownies &Girl Scouts

16 7:00 pm

Chancel Choir

17 7:00 pm Pastor Relations

Committee

18 8am—2pm Yard Sale

19 8am—2pm Yard Sale

20 Pentecost

9:45 am

Connect Groups

11:00 am

Worship

21 7:00 pm

Handbells/

Scouts

22 7:00 pm Daisy Troop

23 7:00 pm

Chancel Choir

Days

24

Scheduled

25

for Tilling and

26

planting Corn

279:45 am

Connect Groups

11:00 am Worship

Giving Estimates

Due

5pm Memorial

Day Picnic

28 Church Office

Closed

Memorial Day

7pm Scouts

No Handbells

29 7:00 pm

Brownies &

Girl Scouts

30 7:00 pm

Chancel Choir

31

MAY 2018

1 - Reese Fletcher

2 - David Lane

- Nikki Mock

4 - Bill Kibler

- Kim Luper

9 - Sharon Binkley

- Shirley Hauser

10 - Edith Sprinkle

11 - Jill Robertson

14 - Matthew Edwards

- Mary Ferguson

17 - Cory Luper

19 - Christine Faircloth

- Caroline Smitherman

21 - Mary Groff

- Mary C. Middleton

22 - Sue Conrad

23 - McKenzie Bryant

25 - Pat Millsaps

26 -Janet Hauser

May 3—Al & Kim Luper

May 5– Dean & Beth Katsilis

May 14—Gerald & Ann Fletcher

May 27– Barry & Caroline Smitherman

May 28—Reginald & Judy Yarbrough

May 31—Bob & Beth Faircloth

Happy Anniversary!