Catch the Spirit

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Volume 5, Number 16

Catch the Spirit

April 18, 2012

We are in the midst of the season of Eastertide celebrating the central belief of Christianity – Jesus’ death and resurrection. During these forty days, we remember Jesus’ rising from the dead and appearing to His followers. As Christians, we believe in Jesus’ bodily resurrection. The Nicene Creed states, “For us and for our salvation, … he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again.” The Apostles’ Creed states, he “was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead”. So the simple question becomes, do you believe in the resurrection? Why? I believe in the resurrection for many reasons. Let me share with you just two: the absence of a body and the changed lives of the disciples. All four Gospels state clearly that the tomb was without a body. The body of Jesus was not present! In several of the Gospels angels appear and tell his followers that Jesus has risen from the dead as He had told them. So where is the body? Some people have said, the women went to the wrong tomb. However if they had the wrong tomb, when the disciples began causing problems by preaching Jesus’ resurrection, then the authorities could go to the right tomb and produce His body. But they did not because Christ has risen! The other reason is the changed lives of the disciples. A few days after the resurrection, the formerly scared disciples are openly preaching the resurrection of Jesus. Even when martyrdom began to occur, the faith of the disciples held. James the brother of Jesus proclaimed boldly that Jesus was raised from the dead. He became the first Christian martyr—the first to die for his faith in Christ. Peter was crucified upside down. Andrew was crucified in a spread-eagled position. James, son of Zebedee, was beheaded. John was banished. Bartholomew was skinned alive and then beheaded. The “Doubting Thomas” was speared to death. Simon the Zealot was hacked to death. And Paul was beheaded. Many if not all of the disciples eventually were martyred and died for their insistence on the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus is alive! People around the world hold on to their belief that Jesus was bodily raised from the dead and still lives today. Jesus is alive! How do you respond? Will you surrender your life to Him? Love and prayers,

Clefton Vaughan Pastor of Outreach

Uganda and Amazon Medical Mission Needs Donations are needed for the Uganda Mission (June 5-18) and the Amazon Mission (July 13-22). Please join us in being a blessing to the people of Uganda and the Amazon. The greatest needs are: wet wipes, antibacterial hand gel, Tums & Pepto-Bismol tablets, Visine, Pepcid or Zantac, 4oz Robitussin or Robitussin DM, triple antibiotic ointment, Hydrocortisone 1% and 0.5%, Ziplocks – gallon and quart size. Please place donations in the marked bin located in the south foyer of the Activities Center, or contact Jody Farrell at [email protected] or 479-200-2714. Impact Amazon 2012 On April 30th, Amazon Ministries International YWAM – Leticia, will be hosting Impact Amazon 2012 to celebrate 15 years of ministry. Based in Leticia, Columbia, the ministry reaches out to all nations and people and would like to invite alumni and others who have a desire to know what the Lord has done and is doing in that area of the world. Enjoy hearing from Jaime Useche and others that the Lord has touched an estimated million people in this isolated area and that they now have access to the Word of our Lord. Reserve a table for this delicious catered meal for $500 by contacting Julie Thibodaux at 479-6334397 or by visiting the AMI website at www.AmazonMinistries.org for more information. The dinner will be hosted at Central and will start at 6:30 p.m. A portion of your ticket cost will be tax deductible. Only 40 tables with six persons per table, so consider asking others to join this exciting evening and to help participate in what the Lord is doing. Haiti Summer Mission Trip Central United Methodist Church is planning to send a mission team to Haiti this summer for an eight-day mission trip. The trip dates are July 9-16, 2012. The group will be traveling with Mission to Haiti, a Christian mission organization based out of Miami, Florida. Mission to Haiti has been working in Haiti for over 30 years. It’s website is www.missiontohaiti.org. The team projects are expected to include a Bible school, a construction project of building pews for a church, and food relief for sponsored families. The cost of the trip is estimated to be $1,500 per person, which will include airfare, room and board at the Mission to Haiti campus, and incidentals. An informational meeting will take place on Sunday, April 29th, at 12:15 p.m. in Wesley 310. Please email Chadd Claybrook at [email protected] or Brian Swain at bswain@centraltolife. com if you are unable to attend the meeting and have questions.

Special Guest Speaker in Traditional Services this Sunday We are pleased to have Jaime Useche, our missionary in the Amazon, as our guest preacher for the 8:30 and 11:00 o’clock traditional services this Sunday, April 22nd. Central has been a strong supporter of Jaime and his work in the Amazon for many years, and we regularly send a mission team to the Amazon each summer to work with Jaime in various ministry capacities. Those who missed hearing Jaime speak during the contemporary services last Sunday will want to take advantage of the opportunity to hear him this Sunday as he brings a special word to our congregation. Beyond Our Walls Community Service Day On Saturday, April 21st, you can make an impact on our local community by serving on one of several Service Projects. Families, individuals, and groups are encouraged to be in service for 2-3 hours from 8:30-12:00 am. All participants will meet in the Great Hall at 8:30 am for fellowship, prayer and sending out. Then teams will disburse into the community to complete projects. Projects include yard clean-up, housecleaning, hosting a cook-out and more. Projects for families with children (7 years old and up) are indicated on the Project List. Childcare is provided for young children and infants. Check out the Project list which includes a description of the Service Projects and how many are needed to complete each project at www.centraltolife. com/beyondourwalls.

Donations Requested for Potter’s House The Bridge, Central’s young adult ministry, is collecting donations for Potter’s House Thrift as part of Beyond Our Walls on April 21st. Potter’s House is a ministry to at-risk children and youth in Fayetteville that has expressed a specific need for men’s clothing as well as decor, electronics, books/movies, kitchenware, toys, furniture and health & beauty items. We invite you to bring your donations for Potter’s House to the Great Hall from 8:3011:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 21st, then serve our community through one of the many available hands-on projects that are arranged through Beyond our Walls. You will be blessed! For more information contact Rebecca McBride at rebecca. [email protected].

Store Your Lenten Crosses! Those of you who displayed Lenten Crosses as we approached Easter are urged to save and store your crosses for next year. Those who did not have one this year but would like to get one next year will have that opportunity when the Lenten season arrives next spring. Since we began this outreach in 2007, we have distributed over 1,100 crosses. Our thanks to Jan Daugherty and Joan Porter for heading up this ministry. Rev. Vaughan Receives New Appointment Just before Easter we learned that Clefton Vaughan, Central’s Pastor of Outreach for the past four years, had been offered and accepted a new pastoral appointment by Bishop Crutchfield of our Arkansas Conference. Clefton, Lindsey, and Susannah will be moving in late June to Stuttgart where Clefton will become the Senior Pastor of the Grand Avenue United Methodist Church. The Vaughans will certainly be missed by all of us, but our prayers and best wishes go with them as they prepare for their ministry in this new field of opportunity to grow Christ’s church. A reception honoring the Vaughans will be announced at a later date. Meanwhile, keep them in your prayers as we continue ministry together over the next three months.

New Associate Pastor Appointed to Central Following the announcement of Clefton Vaughan’s appointment to Grand Avenue United Methodist Church in Stuttgart, we were pleased to learn that the Rev. Carl Palmer has been appointed to succeed Clefton as one of Central’s associate pastors. A native of Ohio, Carl holds an undergraduate degree from Ohio State University and an M. Div. degree from Asbury Theological Seminary. He has served appointments in Arkansas as pastor of the Vilonia UMC, the Stamps UMC, and the Elm Springs UMC. Carl is married to former Fayetteville native, Denni Stropes, who was a member of Central during her college days at the U of A. Carl and Denni met at Asbury where she also earned her M.Div. degree to become a Diaconal Minister in the Arkansas Conference. The Palmers, who have five children, are excited about their future ministry at Central. Please remember them in your prayers as they look forward to joining us in late June. If you would like to call or write the Palmers a word of welcome, you may do so at (479) 790-0741; P.O. Box 152, Elm Springs, AR 72728; or [email protected].

Festival Handbell Choirs in Concert Central will be hosting the ninth annual Northwest Arkansas Handbell Festival on Saturday, April 28. Fifteen handbell choirs from three states will be participating in the day-long event, which culminates in a public concert at 4:00 p.m. The concert will feature a variety of handbell selections, including five massed choirs pieces, Extreme Ring choirs, and solo performances by Jubellation!, Ozark Bronze Handbell Ensemble and other groups. The festival clinician is Lloyd Larson, the composer of the Easter cantata. There is no charge for the “come-as-you-are” concert, which takes place in Central’s Activities Center. For more information, contact Fenner Russell at [email protected] or 442-1824. 2012 WorkMatters/Chick-fil-A Leadercast WorkMatters will host the annual Chick-fil-a Leadercast on May 4th at Central. This year’s event will feature ten of the most dynamic leaders in culture today, ranging from Tim Tebow, Heisman Trophy winner and quarterback of the New York Jets; best selling author, Patrick Lencioni; CNN’s Soledad O’Brien, renowned leadership communicator, Andy Stanley; and the infamous leadership expert John Maxwell. Tickets are $85, with group ticket discounts available as well. Tickets are available online at www.workmatters.org or by phone at 479-444-1477.

Discovery Class for Prospective Members Central’s next Discovery class for those desiring to explore membership in Central will be held on Sunday, May 6th. The class, led by Central’s pastors, will begin at 4:00 p.m. and conclude around 8:00 p.m. A light meal will be served halfway through the evening, and childcare is available with reservation by May 2nd. Registration is available online at www. centraltolife.com/discovery, or by contacting Lora Hayes in the church office at 442-4237 or [email protected].

Shabbat Dinner Registration is open for the Shabbat dinner fund raising event to be held on Thursday, July 12th at 6:30 p.m. This Christian Friends of Israeli Communities (CFOIC) sponsored event will be hosted by Central and will take place in the Great Hall. Enjoy an educational evening with others from our area over a delicious catered meal. Hear Sondra Baras, a resident of biblical Samaria, share how Jewish families enjoy the sabbath meal and hear an update on current events in Israel. Seats are $50 each. Reserve a table for your group of seven for $350 each. Register at www. centraltolife.com/shabbat. Register early—only 40 tables total available. For more details contact Les or Sue Havens at 479-770-0786.

2012 Music Scholarship Available Central UMC is pleased to announce that applications are being received for a scholarship award from the Music Scholarship Fund, which is made possible by an endowment gift. The amount of the scholarship depends on market conditions but should range this year between $500 - $750. This scholarship is open to students who are Arkansas residents and are either graduating high school seniors or college undergraduates enrolled in a four-year-accredited college or university. Applicants should also be majoring in music, music education, or a related field with potential for a career in music ministry. The application may be accessed at www.centraltolife.com, under the “Music and Worship” tab in the “Ministries” section, or interested persons may contact Fenner Russell at [email protected] or 479-442-1824 for more information. The completed application must be postmarked no later than April 30, 2012. Scholarship award decisions will be made by July 16, 2012. Infant Baptisms Jason and Kalie Gilbert will present their infant daughter, Avery Olivia Gilbert, in Christian Baptism at the 9:40 a.m. worship service in Central’s Activities Center on Sunday, April 22, 2012. David and Rachelle McConnell are the maternal grandparents.

Wednesday Night Live Menu April 25 Hot Dogs or Chili Dogs, Chips, Salad Bar, Dessert, Drinks

Aaron and Shannon Nickell will present their infant daughter, Olivia Grace Nickell, in Christian Baptism at the 11:00 a.m. worship service in Central’s Activities Center on Sunday, April 22, 2012.

Feed My Sheep: Ross Team

Record of Our Stewardship Hospitalizations WRMC - Ray Culver, Scott Callison, Bob Cantrell Previously Hospitalized & Released - Bonnie Jones, Bob Welch Note – Due to privacy laws, our pastors are unable to access hospital admission records as they have in the past. For our pastors to know you are in the hospital, please inform the Church Office or let the hospital admission officials know you are United Methodist.

General Operations Needed each week Received this week Property Maintenance Needed each week Received this week Count Me In Received this week Life-to-Date



4/15/12 $ 65,170 $ 68,004 $ 4,707 $ 3,247 $ 16,546 $ 1,639,180

Check out our website for all the details on what’s happening with Central Student Ministries! www.centraltolife.com/students • studentlife This Sunday, April 22nd It’s our last regular studentlife of the year. Come join us for Worship and time with your small group! 5:00 – 5:30 Hang Time (CAC & SMB Café) 5:30 – 6:00 Snack Supper (CAC Great Hall) 6:00 – 7:30 Worship/Small Groups (SMB Worship Center) • Beyond Our Walls | April 21st Beyond Our Walls is Central’s quarterly community outreach taking place from 8:30 – noon on Saturday, April 21st. We are encouraging our studentlife Small Groups to participate. Check with your small group leader for more information. • Senior Dinner | May 6th | 6:00 – 8:00 PM All Seniors and their families are invited to attend our annual Senior Dinner on Sunday, May 6th from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the CAC Great Hall. A wonderful dinner will be served, followed by a very meaningful program. Please RSVP to Greg Gibson ([email protected] | 442-1807) by Wednesday, April 25th. • Summer Missions 2012 Join us this summer as we head out to serve on two week-long mission trips. Cost is $300 ($50 Deposit Due ASAP). More information and online registration at our website – www.centraltolife.com/students. - Service Over Self (June 10-16): Memphis, TN

Calendar of Events Sunday, April 22 8:00 8:30 9:15 9:40 9:40 9:40 9:45 10:30 11:00 11:00 12:00 12:15 1:30 4:30 5:00 5:15 5:30 6:00 6:30

Men’s Walk to Emmaus (Mt. Sequoyah) Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room) Traditional Worship Celebration (Sanctuary) Truth Seekers Class (Wesley 307) Sunday School Confirmation Commitment Sunday (Sanctuary) Contemporary Worship Celebration (Great Hall)

College and Careers Class (Wesley 206) Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room) Traditional Worship Celebration (Sanctuary) Contemporary Worship Celebration (Great Hall) Young Adult Ministry Task Force (Wesley 103) Caring, Grief, and Loss Team Meeting (CAC Sideroom 5) Ozark Bronze (Sanctuary) Team 4:12 Leader Meeting (CAC Sideroom 3) studentlife Game Time (SMB Café and Great Hall) studentlife Leader Meeting (CAC Sideroom 1) studentlife Snack Supper (Great Hall) studentlife Worship (SMB Worship Center) studentlife Small Groups (various locations)

Wednesday, April 25 9:30 10:05 4:45 5:45 5:45 5:45 5:45 6:00 6:00 6:00 6:00 6:00 6:30 7:00

Thursday, April 26 10:00 11:30 2:00 2:30 4:00

Monday, April 23 9:30 10:00 3:30 5:45 6:00 6:30 6:30

Apprentice of Jesus - Pulliam (Wesley 304) Timothy Team/Tiny Tims Teachers’ Meeting (SMB 206) Celebration Ringers (Sanctuary) Jubellation! Handbell Ensemble (Sanctuary) studentlife Senior Guys Meeting (Great Hall) Boy Scouts Troop 102 (CAC Scout Room) Second Coming - Holifield (Wesley 310)

Tuesday, April 24 6:30 6:30 9:00 9:00 9:30 10:00 11:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30

Men’s Bible Study (Wesley 310) Men’s Bible Study - Broyles (3263 N. College) Worship Team Meeting (Wesley 303) Disciple III - Green/Herriman (Wesley 102) Disciple II - Gullett (Wesley 310) Staff Meeting (Wesley 307) Community Meals (Great Hall) Disciple I - Farrell (Wesley 102) Apprentice of Jesus - Pulliam (Wesley 304) Apprentice of Jesus - Thorn (Wesley 307) Second Coming - Holifield (Wesley 310)

The Gathering (Wesley 310) Senior Saints (Butterfield) WNL Express Meal (Great Hall) Timothy Team Classes (Ed Bldg) Tiny Tims Classes (SMB 1st Floor) Tiny Tims Kindergarten Graduation (SMB Central Park) Team 4:12 (SMB 2nd Floor) WNL Adult Classes (Various Locations) Disciple I - Haas/Jones (Wesley 102) Disciple I - Vaughan (Wesley 304) Disciple II - Graves/Tucker (Wesley 310) Disciple III - Johanson (Wesley 306) Contemporary Worship Team Rehearsal (Great Hall) Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)

5:30 6:30 6:30 7:00

Women’s Walk to Emmaus (Mt. Sequoyah) Community Meals Bible Study (CAC Siderooms 1 & 2) Community Meals (Great Hall) Handbell Festival Set Up (CAC Great Hall and Siderooms) Children’s Ministry Prayer Gathering (Wesley 107) studentlife Praise Team Rehearsal (SMB Worship Center) String Coalition (Wesley 1st Floor Rooms) Perspectives Course (SMB Worship Center) Prayer Group (Wesley 206) Uganda Mission Meeting (Wesley Chapel)

Friday, April 27 8:00 5:30

Women’s Walk to Emmaus (Mt. Sequoyah) Handbell Festival Set Up (CAC Great Hall and Siderooms) Fergus/Raney Wedding Rehearsal (Sanctuary)

Saturday, April 28 8:00 4:00 5:30

Women’s Walk to Emmaus (Mt. Sequoyah) Spring Handbell Festival (CAC Great Hall and Siderooms) Spring Handbell Festival Concert (Great Hall) Fergus/Raney Wedding (Sanctuary)

Lord’s Day Celebration Sunday, April 22, 2012

8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Traditional Services - Sanctuary Message The Meaning of the Great Commission Jaime Useche Missionary to the Amazon

9:40 & 11:00 a.m. Contemporary Services - Great Hall Message

How to Save a Life

Jody Farrell

To Reach the Pastor on Emergency Call this Weekend, Call 479-799-7473 Traffic Challenges A portion of the 35th Annual Joe Martin Stage Race is being held on Sunday, April 29th, and will be going on throughout the morning. This will result in traffic challenges throughout the downtown Fayetteville area. In particular, the section of Dickson Street between East Avenue and West Avenue will be closed. We encourage you to be aware of this on April 29th as you approach Central that morning and when you depart following worship services.